Family: Lymantriidae, Tussock Moths view all from this family

Description Male wingspan 3/4" (20 mm); female wingspan 1 1/8-2 3/4" (28-70 mm). Male's fore wings brownish gray with brown irregular lines more or less parallel to outer margin; hind wings dark around outer margin. Female's wings yellowish white with narrow wavy lines paralleling outer margin and with series of dark brown dots around outer margin of hind wing. Male has feathery antennae and slender, conical abdomen. Female has threadlike antennae and bulbous abdomen. Caterpillar is gray with long dark hair along sides and 5 pairs of blue tubercles and 6 pairs of red tubercles on its back.

Life Cycle Caterpillar feeds on many kinds of deciduous and evergreen trees, including oak, pine, and hemlock.

Flight July-August.

Habitat Deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests.

Range Northeastern United States and extreme southern Canada; recently introduced in many other parts of the United States.

Discussion In 1869 this species was accidentally carried to Massachusetts from Europe. Their caterpillars have become major pests of forest and shade trees. They denuded millions of acres of trees in the early 1970's. The male flies strongly, while the flightless female only flutters along the ground. One female produces masses of about 400 eggs, depositing them on tree trunks and buildings or in other protected areas. The caterpillars feed at night. There is 1 generation a year.