#pale tiger moth

[chickenmeow]

[libraryofmoths]

Moth of the Week

Banded Tussock Moth

Halysidota tessellaris

[Right | Left]

The banded tussock moth is a part of the family Erebidae, the tiger moth family. It was first described in 1797 by James Edward Smith. This species is also called the pale tiger moth, banded tussock moth, and tessellated halisidota. The common name “banded tussock” moth comes from the clumps of longer hairs that protrude amid the shorter ones on the caterpillars, called “tussocks.” The scientific name “tessellaris” refers to a tessellated pattern, or a pattern made of small stones similar to the pattern on this moth’s forewings.

Description This species has light brown, tan, or cream wings and upper body. The abdomen is a yellow-orange. The forewings have a pattern of beige bands with thin black outlines while the hindwings are blank. On the back of the thorax are two orange stripes with a teal stripe on either side. Adult males and females are identical in color and pattern.

Wingspan: 3.81 - 5.08 cm (1.5 - 2 in)

The caterpillars are covered in long hair that ranges from yellow-orange to dark gray. At the head and bottom of the caterpillars are especially long clumps of white, black, or orange hairs.

Caterpillar length: 3.5 cm (≈1.38 in)

Diet and Habitat Larvae of this moth feed on some species of alder, ash, apple, beech, birch, blueberry, boxelder, chestnut, chokecherry, elm, grape, hackberry, hazel, hickory, oak, sycamore, walnut, and willow. They eat the leaf tissue between leaf veins.

This moth lives in North America and ranges from southern Canada to Texas and central Florida. They inhabit wooded areas with different types of deciduous trees. Adults may be seen by lights at night.

Mating In the north, this species is univoltine with one generation and year while in the south, it is multivoltine with two or more generations on the south. In Missouri, a two generation a year habitat, adult moths are seen from early May until the end of August. They presumably mate during this time. Eggs are laid in masses on the undersides of host plant leaves. Caterpillars overwinter in cocoons made from their own hair.

Predators This moth and its larvae are preyed on by birds, salamanders, toads, bats (Eptesicus fuscus), and 9 different parasitoid wasps (Braconidae).

Caterpillars of this moth are covered in long hairs that are thought to cause stinging and rashes like other similar species. The larvae behave as if they are chemically protected, but they have not been tested for alkaloids according to Wikipedia. Adults are confirmed to have and use alkaloids like other moths in the Erebidae family. They gain these toxins from their diet as caterpillars which makes them unpalatable to predators.

Fun Fact Although some moths in the subfamily Arctiinae are called “tussock moths,” there is a different subfamily (Lymantriinae) also in the Erebidae that are called the “true tussock moths.” Lymantriinae moths used to be in their own family but are now grouped together with other subfamilies under the family Erebidae.

Adult banded tussock moths are visually very similar to adult sycamore tussock moths (Halysidota harrisii). Scientists even need to dissect the two in order to tell the difference.

(Source: Wikipedia, UMassAmherst, MarylandBiodiversityProject, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, BugGuide)

[faguscarolinensis]

Halysidota tessellaris on Hibiscus moscheutos / Banded Tussock Moth on Swamp Rosemallow

[sylvan-sanctum]

Found this funky looking caterpillar crawling on the bird bath. The ‘pillar seemed a little confused as to how to get down, so we gave it a lift back to the ground.

After doing some research, it looks like this is most likely the larva of the pale tiger moth, Halysidota tessellaris .

[psikonauti]

Halysidota tesselaris / Cephalanthus occidentalis

[metalectra]

Banded tussock moth caterpillar

North Texas

[starcreaming]

Transported this fella from a fallen log to a tree! Couldn’t take a pic while they were on me because they were moving with a purpose :(