Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700
Malacosoma tigris
This record describes Malacosoma tigris (species). Recorded family: Lasiocampidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
M. texana Beut. [syn. of M. tigris ](80 a) was described as a form of disstria , but does not have its habitus. Maybe clay-yellowish, dark sprinkled; Lines brown, clear means without bright borders. I only have ♂♂; I think it is a good species from the tigris family. ♀ and caterpillar unknown. Texas. - approximate Google translate of Dyar The species name tigris is a simple noun, so does not follow the genus name in gender. ( Malacosoma is neuter, so adjectivic species names end -um instead of -a. )
Identification notes
M. texana Beut. [syn. of M. tigris ](80 a) was described as a form of disstria , but does not have its habitus. Maybe clay-yellowish, dark sprinkled; Lines brown, clear means without bright borders. I only have ♂♂; I think it is a good species from the tigris family. ♀ and caterpillar unknown. Texas. - approximate Google translate of Dyar (1928)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Lasiocampoidea
- Family
- Lasiocampidae (Tent Caterpillar and Lappet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Lasiocampinae
- Tribe
- Lasiocampini
- Genus
- Malacosoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Type Locality: Platte Canyon near Denver, CO. Type Locality ( M. t. var. inducta ): Palmerlee, Cochise Co., AZ. Type Locality ( M. texana , syn.): TX.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: various oaks
Life History
Eggs are laid in encircling bands on very small twigs. The masses differ from other Malacosoma in not being covered with spumaline.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Malacosoma tigris. 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 Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Boris Bueche , Chuck Sexton , Marci Hess , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700
What is Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700?
Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700 (Malacosoma tigris) is a species in the family Lasiocampidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700?
M. texana Beut. [syn. of M. tigris ](80 a) was described as a form of disstria , but does not have its habitus. Maybe clay-yellowish, dark sprinkled; Lines brown, clear means without bright borders. I only have ♂♂; I think it is a good species from the tigris family. ♀ and caterpillar unknown. Texas. - approximate Google translate of Dyar (1928)
Where is Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700 found?
Range: Type Locality: Platte Canyon near Denver, CO. Type Locality ( M. t. var. inducta ): Palmerlee, Cochise Co., AZ. Type Locality ( M. texana , syn.): TX.
What does Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700 eat?
The diet of the Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700 includes various oaks.
What is the life cycle of a Sonoran Tent Caterpillar - Hodges#7700?
Eggs are laid in encircling bands on very small twigs. The masses differ from other Malacosoma in not being covered with spumaline.