Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Dasychira Members:	161 NC Records

Dasychira obliquata (Grote & Robinson, 1866) - Streaked Tussock Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Lymantriinae

Tribe:
Orgyiini

P3 Number:
930154

MONA Number:
8302.00

Comments: One of 16 species in this genus that occur in North America, 10 of which have been recorded in North Carolina.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1978)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Both Forbes (1948) and Ferguson (1978) provide keys to the larvae.

Adult Markings: Males have a smooth, greenish-gray median area without much white shading towards the costa; the basal and subterminal areas are shaded with brown but not contrasting with the rest of the wing (Forbes, 1948). The antemedian is black and strongly dentate and the postmedian is slightly dentate with a tooth at M3 and generally convex above that point to the costa. Forms with black bars are common, which in this species are thin and sharply pointed -- easily distinguishing this species when present. Hind-wings are dark fuscous. Females are larger and have more extensive white areas over the cell but are otherwise similar in color. In barred forms, there may be additional dark streaks along the veins.

Adult Structural Features: Dasychira species have two dorsal tufts on their abdomens, whereas Orgyia have just one. Adults lack mouthparts. The genitalia of the males differ slightly from those of tephra and dorsipennata but probably cannot be reliably identified based on those characteristics (Ferguson, 1978).

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.

Immatures and Development: Larvae are uniformly grayish-brown and lack hair pencils at the posterior end (Ferguson, 1978). Also absent are the club-like setae located on sides of the thorax and abdomen. The first dorsal abdominal tuft is darker than the next three but similar to the posterior dorsal tuft.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: This species appears to be widespread in both the Mountains and Piedmont, but we have no records from the Coastal Plain.

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: Appears to have one prolonged flight, from late spring to early fall.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: The majority of our records come from upland stands of hardwoods, including many dry to xeric sites. A few also come from riparian habitats, again in association with stands of hardwoods.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding primarily on oaks (Quercus) but with hickory (Carya), beech (Fagus), elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), and cherry (Prunus) also reported (Ferguson, 1978). As of 2024, we have records for a hawthorn Crataegus sp.) and Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). There is also an iNaturalist record showing a larva feeding on White Oak. - View

Observation Methods: Appears to come well to 15 watt UV lights. Adults do not feed, so do not come to bait or to flowers. Larvae are distinctive and should be looked for in order to better document their host plants. The hair of all Lymantriinae larvae are possibly urticating, however, and should be handled with care (Ferguson, 1978).

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G4 SNR [S4S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.

Comments: Fairly widespread over the western two thirds of the state and found in a number of common types of hardwood forests. Appears to be secure in the state.

Photo Gallery for Dasychira obliquata - Streaked Tussock Moth

64 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-24 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-04 Madison Co. Comment: Two larvae were on Black Walnut.
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-25 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-08-17 Yancey Co. Comment: Larva was feeding on a Crataegus sp. and continued to feed on Crataegus in captivity.
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-05 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-08-03 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-07-11 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-07 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-23 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-22 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-08 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-08-14 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-06 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-08-01 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31 Macon Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29 Swain Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-20 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-07-14 Madison Co. Comment: