Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members:
Orgyia Members:
517 NC Records

Orgyia leucostigma (J.E. Smith, 1797) - White-marked Tussock Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: LymantriinaeTribe: OrgyiiniP3 Number: 930168.00 MONA Number: 8316.00
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Ferguson (1978)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Ferguson (1978); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Males are primarily grayish brown with a fairly smooth appearance and lacking strong contrasts between the median area and basal and subterminal areas. The antemedian and postmedian are both fairly narrow and black. The postmedian tends to be more pointed opposite the discal spot than broadly rounded as in definita (Ferguson, 1978), and runs more obliquely to the inner margin rather than transversely as in detrita (Forbes, 1948). The white spot in the tornal area is usually conspicuous, which helps distinguish this species from detrita, where it is usually missing. Leucostigma is distinguished from definita by its grayer coloration, lack of strong contrasts, thinner lines, and lack of prominent dashes or streaks in the subterminal area. Females have only rudimentary wings, similar to the females of Phigalia species; there are no known characters that allow the females of our Orgyia species to be distinguished from one another (Ferguson, 1978).
Wingspan: 28 mm (Forbes, 1948)
Adult Structural Features: Orgyia species have a single dorsal tuft on their abdomens, whereas Dasychira have two. Adults lack functional mouthparts.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larvae have bright red heads and yellow bodies with a well-defined mid-dorsal black stripe, a combination not shared by the other species of Orgyia.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: 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)

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