#attevidae

[herpsandbirds]

Atteva Moth (Atteva sp.), family Attevidae, Tangkoko National Park, Indonesia

photograph by Alvin Francis Lok

[calosoma-amitch]

Alianthus webworm (Atteva aurea), Fishers Island NY, July 2018. 

Insects can serve as a metric for habitat quality, should you be familiar with their natural history. The Alianthus webworm, while beautifully colored, feed exclusively in the eastern US on tree of heaven (Alianthus altissima ), an invasive plant that spreads across forest edges and disturbed landscapes. As such, finding an Alianthus webworm (and in this case, two individuals mating) likely means that you have the invasive plant somewhere on your property. 

As caterpillars, Alianthus webworms get their names from building matted webs of silk over the leaves they feed on, skeletonizing the plant tissues within. There are multiple generations of this insect in the eastern US, and those numbers have been increasing following warmer, changing climates.

[dendroica]

Ailanthus Webworm Moth on goldenrod (by me)

[that-crazy-scorpio-man]

Alianthus webworm moth (Atteva aurea) with lovebugs.

[dendroica]

Ailanthus Webworm Moth, Atteva aurea (by me)

[dendroica]

Ailanthus Webworm Moth, Atteva aurea, on goldenrod (by me)

[calosoma-amitch]

Alianthus webworm (Atteva aurea), Newark DE. August 2017. Once found only in southern Florida, the Alianthus webworm has made its way north thanks in part to the introduction of the Tree-of-Heaven (Alianthus altissima), a nonnative ornamental tree that has quickly become invasive in the eastern US. 

As a result, the Alianthus webworm can be found in cities and suburban areas from the southeast and into New England, and if you find it on your property, it is likely that Tree-of-Heaven plants are somewhere nearby. So, unfortunate to find it in my mothing event. 

Caterpillars form silky webs around the leaves of Tree-of-Heaven branches and feed on the tissues within.   

Multiple generations possible in the northeastern US, and increased summer temperatures may prolong the moth’s stay.

[dendroica]

Ailanthus Webworm Moths mating (by me)