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 243 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 19, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 28, 2018
Observation date: Sep 14, 2018
Submitted by: SusanPotomac
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 26, 2018
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: Dr. Z.
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 08, 2018
Observation date: Jul 07, 2018
Submitted by: Lmcsgal2003
Region: Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2018
Observation date: Aug 14, 2018
Submitted by: tadler
Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2018
Observation date: Aug 27, 2018
Submitted by: DKMyers
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 30, 2018
Observation date: Aug 28, 2018
Submitted by: DKMyers
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 30, 2018
Observation date: Aug 27, 2018
Submitted by: TravelinGal
Region: Anderson County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2018
Observation date: Aug 14, 2018
Submitted by: HSMom98
Region: Trumbull County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 27, 2018
Observation date: Aug 26, 2018
Submitted by: rainylys
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 26, 2018
Observation date: Jul 24, 2018
Submitted by: Beachmess
Region: Mobile County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 16, 2018
Submitted by: Quaker state mothing
Region: McDowell County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 21, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: liontigerbear
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 18, 2018
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: pabirdermoore
Region: Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 15, 2018
Observation date: Aug 13, 2016
Submitted by: Julietl59@yahoo.com
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 02, 2016
Submitted by: sccarson
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 14, 2017
Observation date: Oct 15, 2017
Submitted by: WWRauscher
Region: Texas, Morris County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 20, 2017
Observation date: Sep 04, 2017
Submitted by: Wlmay67
Region: DeKalb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 09, 2017
Observation date: Oct 03, 2017
Submitted by: Bkripto
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 03, 2017
Observation date: Sep 25, 2017
Submitted by: KenL
Region: Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 30, 2017
Observation date: Aug 20, 2017
Submitted by: Ricka1
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 29, 2017
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
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