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We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
Rusty Tussock Moth
Orgyia antiqua (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Lymantriinae
Identification: Females are wingless. The male wingspan is 3.0 cm. Forewing is red-brown with a large white subanal spot in the postmedian area, hindwing red-orange to orange-brown.
Wing Span: 2.5-3.0 cm
Life History:
Flight: Moths fly from late summer to fall
Caterpillar Hosts: Caterpillars are generalist feeders on the foliage of flowering trees in the Rosaceae, Fagaceae, Ericaceae, and Salicaceae.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Native to Europe but now found throughout North America, Europe, and parts of Africa and Asia
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments:
Pollinator Week was June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 58 verified sightings

Observation date: Sep 10, 2017
Submitted by: MariaAlonso
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2020

Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: Jody
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 05, 2020

Observation date: Aug 23, 2020
Submitted by: Reg Sinclair
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 05, 2020

Observation date: Sep 27, 2018
Submitted by: michelleron222
Region: Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 04, 2020

Observation date: Aug 22, 2014
Submitted by: crx2aj3
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 04, 2020

Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: Jane Doerges
Region: Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 11, 2020

Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 08, 2019

Observation date: Sep 03, 2019
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019

Observation date: Aug 26, 2019
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 29, 2019

Observation date: Aug 25, 2019
Submitted by: Alicia406
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 29, 2019

Observation date: Aug 23, 2019
Submitted by: Cupcakequester
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 26, 2019

Observation date: Jul 24, 2019
Submitted by: RobertWeeden
Region: Fairbanks North Star, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 25, 2019

Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: Deirdre Still
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 23, 2019

Observation date: Jul 13, 2018
Submitted by: CClouse
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2018

Observation date: Jul 06, 2017
Submitted by: Shirley Miller
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 11, 2017

Observation date: Aug 15, 2015
Submitted by: Dave Fairall
Region: Haywood County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 01, 2015

Observation date: Aug 06, 2015
Submitted by: justinmch
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 07, 2015

Observation date: Jul 12, 2015
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2015

Observation date: Aug 06, 2014
Submitted by: Boba
Region: Yakutat, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Dec 04, 2014

Observation date: Jul 01, 2012
Submitted by: djstrobe1
Region: Clackamas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Feb 27, 2014

Observation date: Oct 16, 2013
Submitted by: brithappens
Region: Clark County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 21, 2013

Observation date: Sep 11, 2013
Submitted by: swittwa
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 16, 2013

Observation date: Aug 26, 2013
Submitted by: Peter Woods
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 27, 2013

Observation date: Aug 18, 2013
Submitted by: joetsab
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 21, 2013
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