How to get rid of tussock moths?
Tussock Moths are a species of pest that is known for having a destructive caterpillar phase. The caterpillar is notorious for defoliating entire small trees and shrubs when there is no intervention. To get rid of Tussock Moth Caterpillars, we recommend applying Reclaim IT Insecticide to your yard and ornamentals.
What does a hickory tussock moth look like?
Photo by Kurt Andreas, used with permission. Hickory tussock moth caterpillars are fuzzy, white and black caterpillars that are often very apparent in the fall, sometimes in large numbers.
What do milkweed moth caterpillars eat?
Milkweed tussock moth, Euchaetes egle, sometimes referred to as the milkweed tiger moth, specializes in milkweeds and dogbanes for larval food. One can find these cute (in my opinion) caterpillars munching away on common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, at the South Carolina Botanical Garden.
Why are milkweed tussock moth caterpillars so poisonous?
Like monarch caterpillars, the bright, contrasting coloration of the milkweed tussock moth caterpillar signals that its body contains an accumulation of toxic cardiac glycosides from the plants it feeds on exclusively.
What do hickory tussock caterpillars eat?
The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of hardwood trees, including hickory, pecan, walnut, American hornbeam, ash, elm, oak and willow, to name only a few.
What plants do tussock moth caterpillars eat?
These caterpillars feed on a range of host plants, including birch, cherry, apple, oak, and even some coniferous trees like fir and spruce, and may cause damage to trees when present in significant numbers. White-Marked Tussock Moths produce two generations each year.
Do tussock moth caterpillars eat milkweed?
A group of milkweed tussock caterpillars can rather quickly consume entire milkweed plants except for the stem. The caterpillars usually eat all but the major leaf veins which are full of latex sap.
How long do tussock caterpillars last?
When it comes to the tussock moth caterpillars, "it's usually best to let them do their thing, and they'll be gone in about four weeks or so."
Do birds eat tussock moths?
The three little birds that live in our area full time and eat both the Tussock moth and its caterpillars, are the Oak Titmouse, the Bushtit and the Bewick Wren. As amazing as it may seem, all of these helpers were called to by the trees!
What do adult tussock moths eat?
Adults lack functional mouthparts and do not eat. Larvae usually eat trees, shrubs, and other woody plants, but some species eat herbaceous plants. Compared to other moth groups, most tussock moths have a rather wide range of acceptable host plants.
Should I let caterpillars eat my milkweed?
Actually, no. Monarch caterpillars do only eat plants in the Milkweed family (Asclepias spp), so if we want to help them out in our wildlife gardens, we still need to add these plants to our gardens.
Do tussock moth caterpillars eat monarch caterpillars?
The senders were well-meaning Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) enthusiasts who were concerned the tussocks were eating the monarchs out of house and home. However, native milkweed tussock moths have the same inalienable food rights as monarchs.
Can you touch milkweed tussock moth caterpillar?
Milkweed Tussock caterpillars are really hairy and, in my opinion, kinda cute. They, however, should not be touched with bare hands!
How do you take care of a tussock moth caterpillar?
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) controls tussock moth larvae, especially if applied when most larvae are young. Bacillus thuringiensis kills only caterpillars (butterfly and moth larvae) that feed on sprayed foliage.
Are tussock moths rare?
Pale Tussock Moth (Calliteara pudibunda) – adult The Pale Tussock moth is a common species throughout much of the southern half of England, becoming scarcer in northern regions. The species is also recorded in Northern Ireland and throughout much of continental Europe.
Are tussock moth caterpillars poisonous to dogs?
Its hairs are extremely toxic to dogs as well as people. Some varieties of black and yellow caterpillars. Some varieties of black fuzzy caterpillars. Tussock Moth caterpillars – their hair can cause a reaction.
Do tussock moth caterpillars damage plants?
Milkweed tussock moth caterpillars feed in clusters as early instars, and the caterpillars can cause an impressive amount of damage to plants with their strong appetites. Gardeners may be alarmed to see anything other than monarch caterpillars ravenously eating their milkweed.
What kills tussock moth caterpillars?
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) controls tussock moth larvae, especially if applied when most larvae are young. Bacillus thuringiensis kills only caterpillars (butterfly and moth larvae) that feed on sprayed foliage.
What do milkweed tussock moths eat?
Euchaetes egle, the Milkweed Tiger Moth, called the Milkweed Tussock Moth, eats both milkweed and dogbane. Both milkweed and dogbane are in the Apocynaceae family. (Dogbane is often mistaken for milkweed by people who raise Monarch caterpillars.
Where do tussock moth caterpillars live?
(Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Tussock moth caterpillars are occasionally abundant and widespread in northcentral Florida. Besides the annoying presence of numerous hairy caterpillars, these insects may spin their difficult-to-remove cocoons on houses, boats, picnic tables and other outdoor articles.
How to control tussock moths?
The best method for controlling Tussock Moths is via chemical control. Our top recommendation for controlling them and stopping the destruction of your plants is Reclaim IT Insecticide. It is safe and easy to use, labeled for various leaf-feeding caterpillars and is affordably priced.
What to do after you have confirmation of a tussock moth infestation?
After you have confirmation of Tussock Moths, you need to inspect the area to see where they are most active. Determine the size and severity of the infestation to help you in your treatment approach.
What is the damage of a tussock moth?
A damaging species of moth that is usually known for being a forest problem, the Tussock Moth is increasing its profile on residential landscapes and gardens. The moth is dull-colored as an adult, but its hairy caterpillar phase of development is known for defoliating small trees and shrubs if left unchecked.
What do tussock moths look like?
Tussock moth caterpillars hatch as tiny worms, which then grow to be 1 and a half inches in length once they are fully matured. They come in various brilliant colors like yellow, orange and black. When crawling, the Tussock Moth Caterpillar is able to stand vertically, which helps it to move from leaf to leaf to feed.
How many clumps of hair are there in a tussock moth?
Among prominent tussock moth species in the US, most feature two clumps of hair that jut from the head end, looking like antennae; one clump of hair jutting from the rear, looking like a tail; and four dense tufts or tussocks of fur along the caterpillar's back.
Can you touch a tussock moth?
If you are able to locate them, be careful and don't touch them. Their bright, vibrant colors are usually a signal that they are dangerous and shouldn't be handled. Tussock Moth Caterpillars go into pupation in cocoons that are attached to tree branches, trunks and the sides of homes, so watch out for those as well.
What are the caterpillars in milkweed?
Along the way, one may be surprised to encounter a lesser-known caterpillar getting its fill of milkweed alongside the monarch caterpillars. Milkweed tussock moth, Euchaetes egle, sometimes referred to as the milkweed tiger moth, specializes in milkweeds and dogbanes for larval food. One can find these cute (in my opinion) caterpillars munching away on common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, at the South Carolina Botanical Garden.
Is milkweed good for tussock moths?
I encourage you, especially if you have enough milkweed to sustain milkweed tussock moth caterpillars, to let them be. Feel good about providing habitat and resources for another species in your garden.
Do milkweed caterpillars eat milkweed?
Questions such as “Are they harmful?”, “Should I remove these?” may arise. The answers are: Euchaetes egle are native insects thriving on the plants they have evolved to consume. Although they may devour some of your plants faster than the monarch caterpillars can, milkweed tussock moth caterpillars are not causing actual harm.
What is the new family of tussock moths?
The new family (Erebidae) that the tussock moth subfamily now belongs to joins together several additional moth groups. Many of these (such as the underwing, or catocalid moths) used to be members of the formerly huge family Noctuidae. The noctuid family continues, but minus those groups. Another distinct group, the tiger and lichen moths, are in the same situation as the tussock moths: they also used to be in their own family, but have now been reduced to a subfamily (Arctiinae) in the new family Erebidae. These recent taxonomy revisions are confusing, but they represent a much greater clarity in our understanding of the true relationships among these animal groups.
Why are tussock moths called tussock moths?
Similar species: The caterpillars in several moth groups are called “tussock moths” because they, too, may be hairy with clumps of longer hairs. Several of these are in the tiger and lichen moth subfamily.
What caterpillars are in cocoons?
The caterpillars incorporate those hairs into the cocoon for protection. Some examples of species in this subfamily include the white-marked tussock moth ( Orgyia leucostigma ), whose larvae damage orchard trees, and the exotic, invasive gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar ).
How many hair tufts are there in caterpillars?
The caterpillars tend to be brightly colored with distinctive groups of hair tufts, some short and some long, often with 2 long tufts in the front and 2 or 3 at the hind end. The elongated clumps are sometimes called "pencils.". Some species have hollow, barbed hairs that sting with toxic spines.
Why do caterpillars have stinging hairs?
Stinging hairs are a defense against the caterpillars’ many predators. The bright colors warn predators of the unpalatable nature of the caterpillars. The hairs also probably help insulate the caterpillars from extreme temperatures and help protect them from drying out.
What order are butterflies and moths in Missouri?
About Butterflies and Moths in Missouri. Butterflies, skippers, and moths belong to an insect order called the Lepidoptera — the "scale-winged" insects. These living jewels have tiny, overlapping scales that cover their wings like shingles.
Why did people introduce gypsy moths to North America?
People introduced the invasive, destructive gypsy moth to North America in a failed attempt to jumpstart a silk-producing industry on our continent.
Scientific Name
Summary
- Hickory tussock moth caterpillars are fuzzy, white and black caterpillars that are often very apparent in the fall, sometimes in large numbers. The hairs may irritate the skin of people sensitive to them, but there are no known cases of systemic allergic reactions in response to the hairs of this species.
Distribution
- Hickory tussock moths are found primarily in northeastern North America from Maine and New Brunswick south to North Carolina, west to Wisconsin and Illinois. They are also occur, but are apparently less common, southwest into Texas and Mexico.
Description
- Young caterpillars are white with black spots and white setae (hairs). Older caterpillars can grow up to 1.7 inches (4.5 cm) and are covered in white and black setae; the black setae are arranged in tufts along the back and a set of black "pencils" often occur at the front and back. Adult moths are tan to light brown and have cream-colored spots that occur in rows; the underwings are cream c…
Life History
- Hickory tussock moths have one generation per year. Adult moths fly May–June and caterpillars are present July–September. Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves in clusters of up to 100 or more. The young larvae feed gregariously on one or a few closely associated leaves. Older larvae become more solitary and feed singly or in small groups. Populations occasionally outbreak an…
Medical Importance
- Hickory tussock moths use their hairs for defense – the hairs are barbed, easily detach, and can become embedded in the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes of potential predators. When they spin their cocoons, the caterpillars incorporate the hairs into the silk so that the cocoons are also protected. Humans, especially young children, can be exposed to the hairs when the caterpillars …
Control
- Because hickory tussock moths are a native species, they are usually controlled by a host of natural enemies. When outbreaks do occur, the majority of defoliation occurs late in the season just a few weeks before trees naturally drop their leaves, so the caterpillars do not generally cause long-term damage to the affected tree. If control is warranted or desired, the best method will de…
Warning
- Pesticides are poisonous. Read and follow directions and safety precautions on labels. Handle carefully and store in original labeled containers out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock. Dispose of empty containers right away, in a safe manner and place. Do not contaminate forage, streams, or ponds.
References
- DuGar, B., J. Sterbank, H. Tcheurekdjian, & R. Hostoffer. 2014. Beware of the caterpillar: Anaphylaxis to the spotted tussock moth caterpillar, Lophocampa maculata. Allergy & Rhinology, 5: e113–e115. iNaturalist. 2019. Hickory tussock moth. Accessed 30 August 2019. Kuspis, D. A., J. E. Rawlings, & E. P. Krenzelok. 2001. Human exposures to stinging caterpillar: Lophocampa c…