Lophocampa caryae
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| Hickory tussock moth | ||||||||||||||
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| Lophocampa caryae Harris, 1841 |
Lophocampa caryae, the hickory tussock moth or hickory halisidota, is a moth in the family Arctiidae. Most species in this family, acquire chemical defenses from its host plants (Weller et al., 1999). The behaviour and aposematic coloration of the larvae also suggests chemical protection in this stage, although they have not been analyzed for alkaloid or cardenolide content. Formerly placed in the genus Halysidota.
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[edit] Range
From southern Canada, south to North Carolina in North America (Wagner 2005).
[edit] Life cycle
One generation per year (Wagner 2005).
[edit] Egg
Eggs are laid in masses on the undersides of leaves (Rose and Lindquist, 1982).
[edit] Larva
Caterpillars are covered all over in long hairlike setae, in spreading tufts. Most are white, but there are black tufts along the middle of the back, and four long black hair pencils (two near the front, and two near the back). These hairs cause itchy rashes in some people (Wagner, 2005). There are black spots along the sides, and the head capsule is black. Mature caterpillars are found from July to September (Wagner 2005). Caterpillars feed in groups of 100 or so in the early instars (Wagner 2005), skeletonizing the leaves. They become solitary later. Grows to a length of 45 mm.
[edit] Pupa
The cocoon is loose and has 'hairs' woven into it, and overwinters in the leaf litter (Wagner, 2005).
[edit] Adults
Fore-wings are yellowish-brown, marked with white splotches in a kind of stained glass effect. The hindwings are mostly white. The body is 'hairy' and pale brown. Moths fly in May and June (Rose and Lindquist, 1982).
[edit] Food plants
Primarily feeds on hickory, pecan and walnuts, but will also eat ash, elm, oak, willow, and many others (Wagner, 2005). Occasionally causes local defoliation of nut trees, but high densities do not last long enough to cause a lot of damage (Rose and Lindquist, 1982)
[edit] References
- Rose, AH and OH Lindquist (1982). Insects of eastern hardwood tress. Canadian Forestry service, Forestry Tech Rep 29. Government of Canada, Ottawa. ISBN 0-660-11205-1.
- Wagner, DL, (2005) Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press.
- Weller SJ, Jacobsen NL, Conner WE (1999) The evolution of chemical defenses and mating systems in tiger moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Biol J Linn Soc 68:557–578
