Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Hickory Tussock Moth or Hickory Tiger Moth
Lophocampa caryae Harris, 1841


Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Identification: Forewing yellow with brown shading and bands of translucent white spots representing usual lines. Hindwing very pale, translucent yellow, unmarked.
Wing Span: 3.7-5.5 cm.
Life History: Females lay batches of eggs. Early instars stay together in clusters; later instars are not found in groups.
Flight: May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Ashes, elms, hickories, maples, oaks, and other trees.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Nova Scotia to North Carolina mountains, west to Ontario, Wisconsin, and Texas. Absent from much of midwestern part of range.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs: