Hodges#7715
Dryocampa rubicunda
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Superfamily: Bombycoidea
- Family: Saturniidae
- Subfamily: Ceratocampinae
- Genus: Dryocampa
- Species: rubicunda
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Dryocampa rubicunda: //ˌdɹaɪoʊˈkæmpə ˌruːbɪˈkʌndə//
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Images
Summary
Dryocampa rubicunda, commonly known as the rosy maple moth, is a small, colorful moth native to North America, primarily residing in deciduous forests. Its larvae, known as green-striped mapleworms, primarily feed on maple leaves.
Physical Characteristics
Distinctive pink and cream-colored moth with a wingspan of 32-55 mm. The body is wooly and varies from cream or white to bright pink or yellow, with reddish-to-pink legs and antennae. Male moths have bushier antennae than females.
Identification Tips
Identify by their unique, but varying, pink and yellow coloration and distinctive wooly bodies. Males have narrower wings compared to females.
Habitat
Temperate deciduous forests and nearby suburban areas, primarily found on maple trees.
Distribution
Eastern and northern United States and adjacent regions of Canada, extending as far south as Dade County, Florida and west from eastern Texas through Minnesota.
Diet
Caterpillars mainly feed on the leaves of maple trees (Acer spp.), as well as the leaves of oak trees (Quercus spp.) in some instances.
Life Cycle
Typically lives for about two to nine months undergoing five instars, with the pupal stage lasting from at least two weeks to the entire winter.
Reproduction
Adults lay eggs in clusters of 10 to 30 on the underside of leaves, usually maple. Females can reproduce multiple times in warmer regions.
Predators
Birds such as blue jays, black-capped chickadees, and tufted titmice are known to prey on rosy maple moths and their larvae.
Ecosystem Role
Plays a role in the food web as both herbivores (caterpillars) and prey (adults) for birds.
Economic Impact
In dense populations, caterpillars can defoliate trees, leading to aesthetic rather than permanent damage.
Collecting Methods
- Light traps for adults
Preservation Methods
- Pinning adults for display
- Ethanol preservation for larvae
Evolution
First described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793, illustrating a long evolutionary history within the Saturniidae family.
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
The colorful appearance of the moth may lead some to believe it is poisonous, but it is not harmful to humans.
Tags
- moth
- Lepidoptera
- Saturniidae
- North America
- caterpillar
- Dryocampa rubicunda