Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Orgyia Members:	252 NC Records

Orgyia definita Packard, 1864 - Definite Tussock Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Lymantriinae

Tribe:
Orgyiini

P3 Number:
930166

MONA Number:
8314.00

Comments: One of ten species in this genus that occur in North America, four 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: Ferguson (1978); Wagner (2005).

Adult Markings: Males are predominately dark brown, contrastingly shaded with areas of lighter brown or red. As in leucostigma but not detrita, a tornal white spot is usually well-developed. Both the antemedian and postmedian are black and thicker than in the other species of Orgyia; the postmedian is more evenly rounded opposite the cell (typically angled in leucostigma -- Ferguson, 1978). The subterminal is shaded with dark and light brown and is often striated with dark brown dashes and with white dashes present near the apex. Females have only rudimentary wings, similar to the females of Phigalia species.

Adult Structural Features: Orgyia species have a single dorsal tuft on their abdomens, whereas Dasychira have two. Adults lack functional mouthparts. Male definita can be recognized by their possession of only a single pair of spurs on their hind legs, in contrast to the two pairs possessed by our other species (Ferguson, 1978). Males also have smaller juxta than detrita and a less pointed apex to their aedeagus (see illustrations in Ferguson, 1978). There are no known characters that allow the females to be distinguished from those of detrita and leucostigma (Ferguson, 1978)

Structural photos

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

Immatures and Development: The larvae are polyphagous and feed on numerous hardwoods. Larvae have yellow bodies and heads, which distinguish them from all of our other species of Orgyia. The mid-dorsal tufts are also cream instead of white or brown and the warts are also yellow. The final instar spins a cocoon with a thin outer sheath that is made of silk and body hairs.

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

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Probably occurs statewide.

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 two to three peaks in activity, possibly separated into distinct flights.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Our records come from virtually all types of forested habitats occurring in the state, including maritime forests, peatlands, Longleaf Pine habitats, Piedmont and Mountain floodplains and ridges.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of woody plants. Ferguson (1978) lists willow (Salix), oak (Quercus), basswood (Tilia), elm (Ulmus), birch (Betula), maple (Acer), and witch-hazel (Hamamelis). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded feeding on Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Sugar Maple (A. saccharum), Box-elder (A. negundo), buckeye (Aesculus sp.), Hazel Alder (Alnus serrulata), hickory (Carya sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), American Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), oak, Coastal Plain Willow (Salix caroliniana), and blueberry (Vaccinium sp.). - View

Observation Methods: Our records all come from 15 watt UV light traps. Adults do not feed, so do not come to bait or to flowers. Larvae are distinctive and should be looked for on low-growing trees and shrubs. The hair of all Lymantriinae larvae are possibly urticating, however, and should be handled with care (Ferguson, 1978).

Wikipedia

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4S5]

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

Comments: With its statewide distribution and use of a wide variety of host plants and habitats, this species appears to be secure within the state.

Photo Gallery for Orgyia definita - Definite Tussock Moth

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

	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-05 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-03 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-10-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-02 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-10-02 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-10-01 Henderson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Merrill Lynch on 2025-09-27 Watauga Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Merrill Lynch on 2025-09-27 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2025-08-29 Henderson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-07-03 Macon Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-26 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-23 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Rich Teper on 2024-11-05 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-11-01 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-13 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-10-02 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-09-19 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-09-15 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-13 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-11 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-06 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-09-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2024-08-06 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-06-29 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-27 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-24 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-06-24 Yancey Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2024-06-17 Graham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-06-14 Buncombe Co. Comment: