Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720
Anisota peigleri
This record describes Anisota peigleri (species). Recorded family: Saturniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Females are reddish-orange in color, have thread-like antennae, and are larger than the males. Male forewings are dark reddish brown with a small white spot and a larger light colored translucent patch. Antennae in males are plumose (featherlike) Caterpillars have only yellow stripes compared to Anisota senatoria , which have orange stripe in addition to yellow. Additionally, larval dorsal and lateral scoli (spines) are much more pronounced in Anisota peigleri than in Anisota senatoria . However, intermediate populations do exist. The trend is apparent in southern Appalachian populations of orange striped oakworms, compare larvae in the guide from North Carolina and northern Georgia to those from Rhode Island to see the difference. adults are active in the day and usually mate from daylight until mid afternoon
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ceratocampinae
- Genus
- Anisota
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se US - Map - (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly mid July to late August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larval host is oak
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Patronym for saturniid expert Richard S. Peigler
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anisota peigleri. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Ryan St Laurent
Frequently Asked Questions About Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720
What is Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720?
Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720 (Anisota peigleri) is a species in the family Saturniidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720?
wingspan 43-69 mm
How do you identify Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720?
Females are reddish-orange in color, have thread-like antennae, and are larger than the males. Male forewings are dark reddish brown with a small white spot and a larger light colored translucent patch. Antennae in males are plumose (featherlike) Caterpillars have only yellow stripes compared to Anisota senatoria , which have orange stripe in addition to yellow. Additionally, larval dorsal and lateral scoli (spines) are much more pronounced in Anisota peigleri than in Anisota senatoria . However, intermediate populations do exist. The trend is apparent in southern Appalachian populations of orange striped oakworms, compare larvae in the guide from North Carolina and northern Georgia to those from Rhode Island to see the difference.
Where is Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720 found?
Range: se US - Map - (MPG)
What does Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720 eat?
The diet of the Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720 includes larval host is oak.
When is Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720 active?
Peigler's Oakworm Moth - Hodges#7720: seasonal activity - adults fly mid July to late August.