Lophocampa+caryae+-+Hickory+Tussock+Moth

The Hickory Tussock Moth //Lophocampa caryae// is a common woodland moth in the family Arctiidae, found in Vermont and throughout eastern North America. Its range extends from Nova Scotia and Quebec south through the Carolinas and west to Wisconsin and Texas, though becoming much less common west of Ohio. Adults primarily feed on walnut, pecan, and hickory; larvae feed on a larger variety of tree species including elm, ash, and oak.

Adult Hickory Tussock Moths are drab brownish yellow with characteristic bands of translucent white circles on the forewing. The hindwings are translucent and unmarked. The extremely hairy larvae grow to about 1.5 inches and are white with tufts of black hairs down the mid-line of the back. These caterpillars are largely unmistakable in Vermont. After hatching, larvae feed together in large groups but disperse after several molts and remain solitary until pupating. Pupa overwinter in leaf litter, emerging in mid-spring as adults.

Tussock moth caterpillars are among the few Vermont species that should be handled with caution. The body hairs have minute barbs capable of spearing into human skin. These spines can cause mild to severe irritation akin to a poison-ivy rash, but hairs can be easily transferred from hands to more sensitive body parts like the eyes and mouth, especially in children resulting in severe reactions. The worst exposures require medical attention to remove the hairs and control potential allergic reactions.

Sources: Hossler, Eric W. Caterpillars and moths Part II. Dermatologic manifestations of encounters with Lepidoptera Journal of the American Academy of Dermatoloy, January 2010.

Lyon, W.F. Stinging Hair Caterpillars. Ohio State University Extenstion Factsheet. Accessed Nov. 2011 http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2130.html

Summerville, K. S., Boulware, M. J., Veech, J. A. and Crist, T. O. (2003), Spatial Variation in Species Diversity and Composition of Forest Lepidoptera in Eastern Deciduous Forests of North America. Conservation Biology, 17: 1045–1057.

Links: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Lophocampa-caryae http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Caterpillars

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