Adult: forewing yellow with brown shading and bands of translucent white spots representing usual lines; hindwing very pale, translucent yellow, unmarked (1)
Larva: white with black markings and long hairs; first 8 abdominal segments with short black dorsal tufts and conspicuous subdorsal black lashes on first and seventh abdominal segments
[adapted from description by David Wagner and Valerie Giles]
Range
Interesting US range runs from the southwestern US to the northeastern US. In Canada, this species is found only in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario. Several in New Brunswick in 2006 (Tony Thomas)
Habitat
deciduous woods; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light
Season
adults fly in May and June
larvae present July to September
Food
larvae feed on leaves of ash, oak, hickory, maple, elm, and other trees (1); also hops, Virginia creeper, raspberry, rose, sumac, and blueberry (HOSTS database)
Life Cycle
one generation per year
The female lays eggs in batches of 50-400 in s single layer on the leaf undersides. The larvae feed gregariously until nearly mature.(2)
Overwinter as pupae in gray, hairy cocoons under litter and stones on the ground.(2)
Remarks
This species is locally abundant but rarely causes serious defoliation.(2)
See Also
Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata) has spots that usually merge into blotchy lines, and has terminal line of spots that merge with outer margin of forewing
on the west coast where L. caryae doesn't occur, Silver-spotted Tiger Moth (L. argentata) is similar but has darker brown forewing with more silvery spots, and Lophocampa roseata has sharp-angled rectangular or chevron-shaped spots on forewing (see images of all 3 species at CBIF)
