Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSaturniidae Members: Anisota Members: 175 NC Records

Anisota virginiensis (Drury, 1773) - Pink-striped Oakworm Moth

Anisota virginiensisAnisota virginiensisAnisota virginiensisAnisota virginiensis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Bombycoidea		 Family:
Saturniidae		Subfamily:
Caratocaminae		P3 Number:
890017		 MONA Number:
7723.00		 MONA Synonym:
includes Anisota pellucida
Comments: One of four species in this genus that occurs in North Carolina (3 others occur north of Mexico -- Tuskes et al. 1996). Ferguson (1971) described a southern subspecies, pellucida, based primarily on its more intense shade of red. Tuskes et al. (1996), however, considered the differences between the forms to be clinal. Apart from some possible and minor differences in the length of the spines in the larvae (Burke and Peigler, 2009), there does not seem to be any convincing reason to treat pellucida separately, particularly as a full species (as proposed by Riotte and Peigler, 1980; see also Burke and Peigler, 2009). We follow Tuskes et al. in this regard.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, 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: Adult females are fairly easy to recognize, differing from those of A. stigma and senatoria in a number of respects: no dark speckling on the wings; more pinkish coloration, particularly in the marginal area beyond the postmedian line; and generally having longer, narrower forewings. Some individuals may be fairly translucent (form virginiensis) while others may be opaque (form pellucida). Tuskes et al. (1996) note the existence of intermediate forms, including specimens from Halifax County, NC ( Ferguson, 1971, also shows an individual -- labeled subspecies virginiensis -- that looks intermediate between a more completely translucent individual labeled virginiensis and a more opaque specimen identified as pellucida; see Plate 5. 22-24). Males, like those of A. senatoria and peigleri, are believed to be bee mimics, possessing translucent forewings and flying only during the day (Tuskes et al., 1996). Males of virginiensis tend to have more transparent forewings than senatoria or peigleri and have more convex outer margins on both sets of wings (see illustrations in Covell, 1984).
Wingspan: 40 mm, males; 50 mm, females (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae -- Pink-striped Oakworms -- are quite distinctive, possessing conspicuous longitudinal pink stripes on a black ground color, and covered with small white tubercles similarly to A. stigma but not senatoria or peigleri (Forbes, 1923; Ferguson, 1971; 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 statewide except for the High Mountains, where oaks are scarce
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Anisota virginiensisAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge 		Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.