Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304
Dasychira plagiata
This record describes Dasychira plagiata (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Lymantriinae
- Tribe
- Orgyiini
- Genus
- Dasychira
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
NE states west to the Lake States and in SE Canada
Seasonal Activity
Adults -early July to early August in the Lake States
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on Balsam Bir, Eastern Hemlock, Eastern Larch, Eastern White Pine, spruces, but usually avoid the "hard pines".
Life History
Eggs are deposited in small, irregular clusters on or near the pupal case, mostly on needles near the mid crown. In August the 3rd instar spins a few silken threads about themselves and hibernates underneath rough bark or between the bases on needles. One generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dasychira plagiata. 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 Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Robert Lord Zimlich , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304
Where is Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304 found?
Range: NE states west to the Lake States and in SE Canada
What does Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304 eat?
The diet of the Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304 includes Larvae feed on Balsam Bir, Eastern Hemlock, Eastern Larch, Eastern White Pine, spruces, but usually avoid the hard pines..
When is Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304 active?
Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304: seasonal activity - Adults -early July to early August in the Lake States.
What is the life cycle of a Northern Pine Tussock Moth - Hodges#8304?
Eggs are deposited in small, irregular clusters on or near the pupal case, mostly on needles near the mid crown. In August the 3rd instar spins a few silken threads about themselves and hibernates underneath rough bark or between the bases on needles. One generation per year