Pacific Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma constricta
This record describes Malacosoma constricta (species). Recorded family: Lasiocampidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Malacosoma constricta, also known as the Pacific tent caterpillar, is a species of moth endemic to North America. Malacosoma constricta is known from California, Oregon, and Washington and is reported only on oaks. In California, subspecies M. constrictum austrinum is found from Santa Barbara County southward; M. constrictum constrictum occurs from Los Angeles County northward.
Wikipedia reference for Malacosoma constricta: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacosoma constricta.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Lasiocampoidea
- Family
- Lasiocampidae (Lappet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Malacosominae
- Tribe
- Lasiocampini
- Genus
- Malacosoma (Tent Caterpillar Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Malacosoma constricta. 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.
