Orgyia leucostigma
(white-marked tussock moth)

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Orgyia leucostigma (J.E. Smith, 1797)

Preferred Common Name

• white-marked tussock moth

Other Scientific Names

• Acyphas plagiata Walker, 1855
• Cladophora leucographa Geyer, 1832
• Hemerocampa leucostigma (J.E. Smith, 1797)
• Orgyia leucographa var. obliviosa Henry Edwards, 1886
• Orgyia leucostigma var. borealis Fitch, 1856
• Orgyia leucostigma var. intermedia Fitch, 1856
• Orgyia libera Strecker, 1900
• Orgyia meridionalis Riotte, 1974
• Orgyia oslari Barnes, 1900
• Orgyia wardi Riotte, 1971
• Phalaena leucostigma J.E. Smith, 1797

International Common Names

• English: tussock moth, white-marked; whitemarked tussock moth
• French: chenille à houppes blanches

EPPO code

• HEMELE (Hemerocampa leucostigma)

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Metazoa
•         Phylum: Arthropoda
•             Subphylum: Uniramia
•                 Class: Insecta
•                     Order: Lepidoptera
•                         Family: Erebidae
•                             Genus: Orgyia
•                                 Species: Orgyia leucostigma

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

List of Symptoms/Signs

Natural enemies

Plant Trade

Wood Packaging

References

Bryk F, 1934. Das Tierreich. 64(19):61-62.

Dixon WN; Foltz JL, 1991. Caterpillars that are not the gypsy moth caterpillar. Some forest Lepidoptera in Florida (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Lasiocampidae, Lymantriidae). Entomology Circular (Gainesville), No. 344:1 p.

Eidt DC; MacGillivray HG, 1972. Resistance of seven fir species to spruce budworm and other insects. Bi-monthly Research Notes, 28(1):2-3

Elgee E, 1975. Persistence of a virus of the white-marked tussock moth on Balsam Fir foliage. Bi-monthly Research Notes, 31(5):33-34

Ferguson DC, 1978. Noctuoidea, Lymantriidae. In: Dominick RB et al., eds. The moths of America north of Mexico (including Greenland), Vol. 22.2. London, UK: E.W. Classey.

Foott WH; Timmins PR, 1977. Observations on new insect pests of grain corn in Essex County, Ontario. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Ontario, 108:49-52

Grant GG, 1978. Field trials on disruption of pheromone communication of tussock moths. Journal of Economic Entomology, 71(3):453-457

Grant GG; McCarty L, 1977. Effect of age on calling behavior and mating success of whitemarked tussock moths. Bi-monthly Research Notes, 33(1):2-3

Guzo D; Stoltz DB, 1985. Obligatory multiparasitism in the tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma. Parasitology, 90(1):1-10

Hajek AE; Strazanac JS; Wheeler MM; Vermeylen FM; Butler L, 2004. Persistence of the fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga and its impact on native Lymantriidae. Biological Control, 30(2):466-473.

Medina RF; Barbosa P, 2002. Predation of small and large Orgyia leucostigma (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) larvae by vertebrate and invertebrate predators. Environmental Entomology, 31(6):1097-1102; 47 ref.

Richard J; Heitzman JE, 1987. Butterflies and Moths of Missouri. Missouri, USA: Missouri Department of Conservation.

Thompson LC; Solomon JD, 1986. The insect defoliator fauna of young sycamore plantations in the Mississippi Delta and its seasonal population development in 1981. Bulletin, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas University, No. 897:24pp.

Thurston GS, 2002. Orgyia leucostigma (J. E. Smith), Whitemarked tussock Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). In: Mason PG, Huber JT, eds. Biological control programmes in Canada, 1981-2000. Wallingford, UK: CAB International, 201-203.

Tietz HM, 1972. An Index to the described Life Histories, Early Stages and Hosts of the Macrolepidoptera of the Continental United States and Canada. Sarasota, Florida, USA: A.C. Allyn.

West RJ; Cunningham JC; Kaupp WJ, 1987. Ground spray applications of Virtuss, a nuclear polyhedrosis virus, against white-marked tussock moth larvae at Bottom Brook, Newfoundland in 1986. Information Report - Newfoundland Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, No. N-X-257:10 pp.

Wilson LF, 1991. Location and condition of whitemarked tussock moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) cocoons in a Michigan black walnut plantation. Great Lakes Entomologist, 24(3):153-157

Distribution References

Dixon W N, Foltz J L, 1991. Caterpillars that are not the gypsy moth caterpillar. Some forest Lepidoptera in Florida (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Lasiocampidae, Lymantriidae). Entomology Circular (Gainesville). 1 p.

Eidt D C, MacGillivray H G, 1972. Resistance of seven fir species to spruce budworm and other insects. Bi-monthly Research Notes. 28 (1), 2-3.

Elgee E, 1975. Persistence of a virus of the white-marked tussock moth on Balsam Fir foliage. Bi-monthly Research Notes. 31 (5), 33-34.

Ferguson DC, 1978. Noctuoidea, Lymantriidae. In: The moths of America north of Mexico (including Greenland), 22.2 [ed. by Dominick RB et al]. London, UK: E.W. Classey.

Hajek A E, Strazanac J S, Wheeler M M, Vermeylen F M, Butler L, 2004. Persistence of the fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga and its impact on native Lymantriidae. Biological Control. 30 (2), 466-473. DOI:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2004.02.005

Medina R F, Barbosa P, 2002. Predation of small and large Orgyia leucostigma (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) larvae by vertebrate and invertebrate predators. Environmental Entomology. 31 (6), 1097-1102. DOI:10.1603/0046-225X-31.6.1097

Richard J, Heitzman JE, 1987. Butterflies and Moths of Missouri., Missouri, USA: Missouri Department of Conservation.

Thompson L C, Solomon J D, 1986. The insect defoliator fauna of young sycamore plantations in the Mississippi Delta and its seasonal population development in 1981. In: Bulletin, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas University, 24pp.

West R J, Cunningham J C, Kaupp W J, 1987. Ground spray applications of Virtuss®, a nuclear polyhedrosis virus, against white-marked tussock moth larvae at Bottom Brook, Newfoundland in 1986. In: Information Report - Newfoundland Forestry Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, 10 pp.

Wilson L F, 1991. Location and condition of whitemarked tussock moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) cocoons in a Michigan black walnut plantation. Great Lakes Entomologist. 24 (3), 153-157.

Distribution Maps