Species Orgyia definita - Definite Tussock Moth - Hodges#8314

8314

Definite-marked Tussock Moth

Chenille à houppes jaunes - En français… Ilze V-G.

Orgyia definita (Packard, 1864)

WS ≈ 30mm

TL ≈ 15-17mm

Adult: FW of males are dark grayish-brown, with sharply defined AM and PM lines, often edged with wide brown bands. ST marked with sharp black dashes near costa, accented by bold, white crescent near inner margin. HW dark brown, almost black. Females are wingless. (1)

Larva: "Caterpillars of Orgyia definita are readily identified by the yellow color of the head, prothoracic plate and dorsal glands. The hair pencils are less fully developed than in the other species. The hair on the body is entirely whitish and the verrucae (the wart-like structures along the body) are pale yellow." (University of Florida)

Most common in New England and Middle Atlantic states. (University of Florida)

Larvae feed on apple, ash, basswood, birches, boxelder, cherry, elm, maple, oaks and willows (Auburn University)

CAUTION: the hairs of caterpillars in this genus are known to cause skin irritation.