PEST PROFILES: MOTH AND BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS
Picture of Tussock Caterpillar
Tussock Catterpillar

Picture of Tussock Caterpillar
Male Moth

Picture of Tussock Caterpillar
Adult Female Moth

Picture of Tussock Caterpillar
Tussock Moth

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Tussock moth

Description:
Larvae grow to 1-† inch long with a reddish orange head and a yellowish body with distinct tufted hairs. Pupae form within a grayish cocoon. The male adult is ash gray with a wingspan of 1 -1 † inch, while females are dirty white, wingless, hairy, and about á inch long.

Damage:
At first larvae skeletonize leaves, but soon they devour all but the main vein and petiole. There are at least 60 host species. More common hosts include maple, horse chestnut, birch, apple, sycamore, poplar, linden, elm, rose, fir, and larch.

Life cycle:
Most species overwinter as eggs and hatch between April and June. There are usually 2 generations a year. Whitemarked tussock moths overwinter as eggs.