Orange-tipped oakworm moth
Anisota senatoria (J.E. Smith, 1797)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Ceratocampinae
Identification: Females can be twice as large as males. Upperside of female is yellow-orange to yellow-brown; forewing has a white cell spot and varying amounts of scattered black specks. Upperside of male is reddish orange to brownish orange; forewing is narrow with a small white cell spot and a small whitish translucent patch.
Wing Span: 1 3/16 - 2 inches (3 - 5 cm).
Life History: Adults are day fliers. Mating takes place from late morning to early afternoon, and in late afternoon or dusk, females begin laying eggs in large clumps on the underside of oak leaves. Eggs hatch in about 2 weeks and are gregarious when young. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in shallow underground chambers.
Flight: One brood from June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various oaks (Quercus) and perhaps chinquapin (Castanea pumila).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Deciduous forests.
Range: Southern Maine west across the Great Lakes region to central Minnesota; south to central Georgia, central Alabama, central Mississippi, Louisiana, and east Texas.
Conservation: Caterpillar populations can be large enough to cause severe defoliation of oaks.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 222 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 10, 2017
Submitted by: Anne Wills
Region: Putnam County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2017
Observation date: Aug 24, 2016
Submitted by: K Stilwell
Region: Tazewell County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 11, 2017
Observation date: Sep 04, 2017
Submitted by: Bruce coleman
Region: Pike County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2017
Observation date: Sep 03, 2017
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 04, 2017
Observation date: Sep 02, 2017
Submitted by: TeachK
Region: Upshur County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 02, 2017
Observation date: Aug 24, 2017
Submitted by: Smokin270
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 24, 2017
Observation date: Aug 24, 2017
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Ron Then)
Region: Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 24, 2017
Observation date: Aug 20, 2017
Submitted by: akdd3173
Region: Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2017
Observation date: Aug 12, 2017
Submitted by: Kurt R. Schwarz
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2017
Observation date: Aug 11, 2017
Submitted by: cosmic_cat
Region: Gregg County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 11, 2017
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: Benjamin Miller
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 08, 2017
Observation date: Aug 06, 2017
Submitted by: mnathan
Region: District of Columbia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 07, 2017
Observation date: Jul 27, 2017
Submitted by: nlg1976
Region: Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 28, 2017
Observation date: Aug 13, 2011
Submitted by: botanybill
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Aug 26, 2014
Submitted by: B. Elby
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 15, 2017
Observation date: Oct 03, 2016
Submitted by: cosmic_cat
Region: Gregg County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 15, 2016
Observation date: Sep 06, 2016
Submitted by: curtis.lehman
Region: Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 23, 2016
Observation date: Aug 20, 2016
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 13, 2016
Observation date: Sep 03, 2016
Submitted by: wolfhoundgirl
Region: Wake County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2016
Observation date: Aug 25, 2016
Submitted by: Dave B
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 26, 2016
Observation date: Aug 25, 2016
Submitted by: Anne Wills
Region: Putnam County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 26, 2016
Observation date: Aug 19, 2016
Submitted by: Ckeim
Region: Washington County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 23, 2016
Observation date: Aug 18, 2016
Submitted by: Moonxshakti
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 18, 2016
Observation date: Aug 15, 2016
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 16, 2016
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