Moths of North Carolina
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Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ACROLEPIIDAE-
ADELIDAE-
AMPHISBATIDAE-
AUTOSTICHIDAE-
BATRACHEDRIDAE-
BEDELLIIDAE-
BLASTOBASIDAE-
BOMBYCIDAE-
BUCCULATRICIDAE-
CARPOSINIDAE-
CHOREUTIDAE-
COLEOPHORIDAE-
COSMOPTERIGIDAE-
COSSIDAE-
CRAMBIDAE-
DEPRESSARIIDAE-
DREPANIDAE-
ELACHISTIDAE-
EPERMENIIDAE-
EPIPYROPIDAE-
EREBIDAE-Erebid Moths
ERIOCRANIIDAE-
EUTELIIDAE-
GALACTICIDAE-
GELECHIIDAE-
GEOMETRIDAE-
GLYPHIDOCERIDAE-
GLYPHIPTERIGIDAE-
GRACILLARIIDAE-
HELIOZELIDAE-
HEPIALIDAE-
HYBLAEIDAE-
INCURVARIIDAE-
LASIOCAMPIDAE-
LECITHOCERIDAE-Long-horned Moths
LIMACODIDAE-
LYONETIIDAE-
MEGALOPYGIDAE-Flannel Moths
MICROPTERIGIDAE-
MIMALLONIDAE-
MOMPHIDAE-Mompha Moths
NEPTICULIDAE-
NOCTUIDAE-Owlet Moths
NOLIDAE-
NOTODONTIDAE-
OECOPHORIDAE-
OPOSTEGIDAE-
PELEOPODIDAE-
PLUTELLIDAE-
PRODOXIDAE-
PSYCHIDAE-Bagworm Moths
PTEROPHORIDAE-
PYRALIDAE-
SATURNIIDAE-Saturniids
SCHRECKENSTEINIIDAE-
SESIIDAE-
SPHINGIDAE-Sphinx Moths
THYATIRIDAE-
THYRIDIDAE-
TINEIDAE-
TISCHERIIDAE-
TORTRICIDAE-
URANIIDAE-
URODIDAE-
XYLORYCTIDAE-
YPONOMEUTIDAE-
YPSOLOPHIDAE-
ZYGAENIDAE-
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Saturniidae Members:
Actias luna
Anisota peigleri
Anisota senatoria
Anisota stigma
Anisota unidentified species
Anisota virginiensis
Antheraea polyphemus
Automeris io
Callosamia angulifera
Callosamia promethea
Callosamia securifera
Callosamia unidentified species
Citheronia regalis
Citheronia sepulcralis
Dryocampa rubicunda
Eacles imperialis
Hemileuca maia
Hyalophora cecropia
Samia cynthia
Syssphinx bicolor
Syssphinx bisecta
Anisota
Members:
Anisota peigleri
Anisota senatoria
Anisota stigma
Anisota unidentified species
Anisota virginiensis
159 NC Records
Anisota stigma
(Fabricius, 1775) - Spiny Oakworm Moth
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Bombycoidea
Family:
Saturniidae
Subfamily:
Caratocaminae
P3 Number:
890014
MONA Number:
7716.00
Comments:
One of four species in this genus that occurs in North Carolina (3 others occur north of Mexico -- Tuskes et al. 1996)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions:
Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)
Online Resources:
MPG
,
BugGuide
,
iNaturalist
,
Google
,
BAMONA
,
GBIF
,
BOLD
Technical Description, Adults:
Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1971), Tuskes et al. (1996)
Technical Description, Immature Stages:
Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1971), Covell (1984), Tuskes et al. (1996), Wagner (2005)
Adult Markings:
Adult males are distinctive. Compared to the males of other species of
Anisota
, they are unique in possessing opaque reddish wings with dark specklings and a well-defined, if diffuse, postmedian line; they are the only males that fly during the night and that are attracted to lights. Some confusion might be possible with male
Sphingicampa bicolor
, but the inner margin of the forewing is much shorter than the outer margin in
Anisota species
, whereas it is nearly equal in length in
Sphingicampa
(Forbes, 1923). Adult females differ from
S. bicolor
in this same respect, and the speckling on their forewings is shared among
Anisota
species only by
A. senatoria
. Female
A. stigma
can be distinguished from
A. senatoria
by the presence of a well-defined medial line on the hindwing and by similar coloration on both sets of wings; in
senatoria
, the hindwings are typically paler than the forewings. Photographs showing only the forewings may not provide enough information to separate these two species, but female
A. stigma
tend to be darker colored and possess more extensive speckling; they also are usually larger and have broader wings.
Wingspan:
45 mm, males; 60 mm, females (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements:
Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development:
Larvae -- Spiny Oakworms -- like other members of this genus, have two prominent, black thoracic spines. Last instars are easy to recognize by their lack of longitudinal stripes and by the presence of numerous small white tubercles scattered all over the body and horns (Ferguson, 1971; Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements:
Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
Probably found throughout the state except at high elevations where oaks are uncommon
County Map:
Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)
Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)
Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments:
Single brooded, flying primarily in mid-summer
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Probably associated with most types of oak forests in the state. The majority of our records come from upland habitats, particularly dry-to-xeric sandhills in the Coastal Plain, where they may feed predominantly on Turkey oak, and monadnocks in the Piedmont (in the Northeast, this species is now more or less restricted to barrens habitats; Wagner, 2005). However, we also have records from lowlands and mesic slopes from across the state, indicating some use of non-xerophytic oaks.
Larval Host Plants:
Larvae are oligophagous, feeding primarily on oaks, including Northern Red Oak (
Quercus rubra
) and Turkey oak (
Q. laevis
), but also reported on Chinquapin, hazel and basswood (Ferguson, 1971; Wagner, 2005). In North Carolina, larvae have been observed feeding on Blackjack Oak (
Q. marilandica
). -
View
Observation Methods:
Both sexes come fairly well to blacklights and incandescent lights. Adults do not feed and consequently do not come to bait. Spiny oakworms feed more solitarily than other species of
Anisota
, are less likely to have outbreak years, and are generally more difficult to find (Tuskes et al., 1996)
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for
General Oak-Hickory Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks:
G5 [S5]
State Protection:
Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments:
Populations are locally vulnerable to the effects of weather, outbreaks of disease, parasites, and predators, and to the effects of pesticides. However, given the commonness of their host plants, wide habitat range -- including suburban areas -- and statewide distribution, this species can easily recover from localized losses. In the Northeast, however, this species has been extirpated from Connecticut and other areas where it once occurred (Wagner, 2012), possibly due to parasitism by a Tachinid fly,
Compsilura concinnata
, that was widely introduced in the Northeast to control Gypsy Moths and other pest Lepidoptera. This fly represents a serious and pervasive threat for many species of moths and is suspected to be responsible for the marked declines in several Saturniids. While such impacts have not yet been documented in North Carolina,
Compsilura
has spread as far south as Virginia (Kellogg et al., 2003) and will probably continue to expand its range southward. The situation in North Carolina needs to be monitored.
Photo Gallery for
Anisota stigma
- Spiny Oakworm Moth
73 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Recorded by: A. Garton on 2024-07-30
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: A. Kauppila on 2024-07-03
Burke Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-30
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-29
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-29
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-29
Rowan Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tina Fulcher on 2024-06-27
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tina Fulcher on 2024-06-27
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Tina Fulcher on 2024-06-27
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-26
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-26
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-23
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Laura Graham on 2024-06-17
Gaston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Laura Graham on 2024-06-17
Gaston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-06-16
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-28
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-22
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-20
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: H. Talcott on 2023-07-17
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-16
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-06-29
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2023-06-29
Yancey Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-25
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan, and Steve Hall on 2022-07-24
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2022-07-14
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-22
Caswell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-16
Jackson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-16
Macon Co.
Comment: