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 253 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 17, 2019
Submitted by: Jamila314
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2019
Observation date: Aug 15, 2019
Submitted by: Eteep
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: nehall
Region: Martinsville, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2019
Observation date: Aug 10, 2019
Submitted by: Tom Raub
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Jul 15, 2019
Submitted by: jonathanboyer
Region: Sussex County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
Observation date: Jul 11, 2019
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Newton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2019
Observation date: Jul 10, 2019
Submitted by: agdsquash
Region: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 10, 2019
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: UBThere2
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 27, 2019
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: James Fox
Region: Virginia, United States, Warren County
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 25, 2019
Observation date: Jun 24, 2019
Submitted by: janseno
Region: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 24, 2019
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
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