Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Malacosoma americanum (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Lasiocampidae
Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
Identification: Body and wings warm fawn brown. Forewing with white am. and pm. lines. Median area sometimes white.
Wing Span: 2.2-4.4 cm.
Life History: Larva feed on many plants and are a serious defoliating pest. They can be easily recognized by the characteristic white webbing ("tents") larvae spin in forks of trees and shrubs in the spring. When full-grown, larvae leave host trees and disperse to form loose cocoons in protected places where they pupate. Infestations tend to be cyclic in severity, worsening for several years until populations crash to low levels.
Flight: Late May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Apple and cherry trees, flowering crabapples, and other members of the rose family.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range:
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments: NULL
National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022!
Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live. Learn more.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 684 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 05, 2022
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 06, 2022
Observation date: May 30, 2013
Submitted by: AlexisCostello
Region: Camden County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 18, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 2016
Submitted by: Kristinajakowlew
Region: Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 16, 2022
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: yaycat
Region: Marquette County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: Estinson
Region: Mecosta County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: May 22, 2018
Submitted by: elisemarie
Region: Kent County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 06, 2009
Submitted by: Ilse Gebhard
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2021
Submitted by: Scotiaspinner
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Feb 05, 2022
Observation date: Apr 20, 2015
Submitted by: carrietopia
Region: De Soto County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 02, 2022
Observation date: Mar 14, 2014
Submitted by: Spuncky95
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 02, 2022
Observation date: Apr 06, 2016
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Prince Georges County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: Apr 09, 2016
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: Apr 03, 2016
Submitted by: mercretas
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: May 17, 2014
Submitted by: soluslupus13
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 31, 2022