Moths of North Carolina
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Anisota Members:
62 NC Records

Anisota senatoria (J.E. Smith, 1797) - Orange-tipped Oakworm Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Bombycoidea Family: SaturniidaeSubfamily: CaratocaminaeP3 Number: 890018.00 MONA Number: 7719.00
Comments: One of four species in this genus that occur in North Carolina. Tuskes et al. (1996) placed senatoria and peigleri in the same species group (Senatoria), along with finlaysoni, which occurs in Canada.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical 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: Few, if any, characters exist that can be used to distinguish adult senatoria from peigleri (Tuskes et al., 1996). Females are also similar in color and possession of dark speckling to females of Anisota stigma and can be difficult to distinguish unless the hindwings are clearly in view: in senatoria, the hindwings are paler in color than the forewings and have only a faint trace of a medial line if any; in stigma, both sets of wings are similar in color and there is a definite medial line (Forbes, 1923; Ferguson, 1971). Males, like those of A. viginiensis and peigleri, are believed to be bee mimics, possessing translucent forewings and flying only during the day (Tuskes et al., 1996). Males of senatoria tend to have less transparent forewings than virginiensis and have straighter outer margins on both sets of wings (slightly concave in the hindwings; see illustrations in Covell, 1984).
Wingspan: 40 mm, males; 50 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 -- Orange-tipped Oakworms -- are quite distinctive, possessing conspicuous longitudinal orange to yellow stripes on a black ground color, and lacking the small white tubercles found in A. stigma and virginiesis (Forbes, 1923; Ferguson, 1971; Tuskes et al, 1996; Wagner, 2005). Larvae of A. peigleri have similar yellow-on-black lines but possess a prominent rows of dorsolateral spines and generally have longer spines overall (Tuskes et al., 1996; Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs in all areas of the state except the High Mountains, where oaks become scarce
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)

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