Dryocampa rubicunda

Fabricius, 1793

rosy maple moth

Dryocampa rubicunda, commonly known as the rosy maple , is a small saturniid moth native to eastern North America. are distinguished by their striking pink and yellow coloration, which varies from cream or white to bright pink or yellow. The exhibits : males have narrower, less rounded wings and bipectinate for detecting female , while females have broader wings and simple antennae. Larvae, known as greenstriped mapleworms, feed on maple leaves and can cause temporary defoliation in years.

Dryocampa rubicunda by Mike Boone. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.5 license.

Dryocampa rubicunda Kittery, Maine by DragonFire1024. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Rosy Maple Moth at Broad Creek Scout Reservation 20220726 by Jstuby. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dryocampa rubicunda: //ˌdɹaɪoʊˈkæmpə ˌruːbɪˈkʌndə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

unmistakable due to pink and yellow coloration, though intensity varies. Distinguished from other small saturniids by combination of woolly body, pink forewings with yellow band, and yellow hindwings. The 'alba' form (Missouri) is completely white or white with faint pink markings. Larvae identified by green stripes, prominent thoracic /horns, and exclusive association with maple foliage. Similar orangestriped oakworm (Anisota senatoria) larvae occur on oaks, have orange stripes rather than green, and lack the distinctive color changes of mapleworms.

Images

Habitat

Temperate deciduous forests, suburban areas, and urban landscapes where maples occur. Primarily associated with red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), silver maple (Acer saccharinum), and box elder (Acer negundo). Occasionally found on turkey oak (Quercus laevis) when oaks are interspersed with maples.

Distribution

Eastern and northern United States and adjacent Canada. Northern limit: southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Southern limit: Dade County, Florida. Western limit: eastern Texas through Minnesota. Absent from most of the Great Plains and western North America.

Seasonality

activity varies by latitude. Northern regions: one , May–August. Mid-range: two broods, April–September. Florida: three broods, March–October. Peak -laying typically in July where single brood; earlier and extended in multi-brood regions. Adults , most active during first third of night. Pupae overwinter in soil, with adult in spring.

Diet

Larvae feed exclusively on leaves of maple , particularly red maple, silver maple, and sugar maple; occasionally box elder and Norway maple. Early instars skeletonize leaves; later instars consume entire leaf blade. do not feed—a trait characteristic of Saturniidae.

Host Associations

Acer rubrum - primary larval red maple
Acer saccharinum - primary larval silver maple
Acer saccharum - primary larval sugar maple
Acer negundo - larval box elder
Acer platanoides - larval Norway maple
Quercus laevis - occasional larval turkey oak, when interspersed with maples

Life Cycle

Complete with five larval instars. laid 24 hours post-mating, in groups of 10–40 on undersides of leaves. Incubation 10–14 days. Larvae hatch and remain on natal tree; early instars feed gregariously, becoming solitary from fourth instar. First 6–11 days post-hatching, second ~12 days, third ~19 days. After ~1 month, mature larvae descend to ground and pupate in shallow soil chambers. Pupal stage lasts minimum two weeks, or (majority of life span in this stage). lifespan 2–9 months, with longer-lived individuals spending most time as pupae. Females typically lay 150–200 eggs; single reproductive event in north, up to three in south.

Behavior

mate at night; females release to attract males, which use bipectinate to detect them. internal; laid 24 hours post-mating. Females exhibit minimal parental care beyond carrying eggs internally for one day. Larvae display group feeding in early instars, transitioning to solitary in final two instars. occurs beneath natal tree. Adults thermoregulate behaviorally, showing increased activity at higher temperatures; small body size limits effective temperature control. Polygynandrous mating system in multi- regions.

Ecological Role

Larvae function as folivores on maple trees, capable of localized defoliation during ; damage is typically aesthetic and trees recover. Serves as prey for birds including blue jays, black-capped chickadees, and tufted titmice. Bright coloration may function as aposematic mimicry (tricking into perceiving ) and as camouflage resembling maple seed cases. Contributes to nutrient cycling through deposition and leaf consumption.

Human Relevance

Occasional pest of ornamental maples due to larval defoliation, though damage rarely permanent. Popular in entomological outreach due to striking appearance; featured on UC Davis EGSA 'Bugbie' T-shirt design inspired by Barbie movie aesthetic. Subject of ecological research on urbanization, climate effects on , and thermal . Caterpillars vulnerable to mortality on paved trails during descent to sites, creating conservation awareness opportunities.

Similar Taxa

Anisota senatoriaOrangestriped oakworm overlaps in range and general , but occurs on oaks rather than maples; larvae have orange stripes and lack the color progression of mapleworms.
Actias lunaLuna moth shares Saturniidae and general but is larger, has green coloration and long hindwing tails; larvae feed on diverse broadleaf trees including walnut and birch, not maples exclusively.
Other Dryocampa species may share associations and general , but D. rubicunda is the only North American with this distinctive pink-yellow coloration.

More Details

Thermal biology

Laboratory studies indicate activity correlates positively with temperature, potentially reflecting tropical ancestry of Ceratocampinae. Small body size constrains thermoregulatory capacity.

Population dynamics

occur periodically when environmental conditions favor survival, but typically collapse due to natural enemies including and .

Subspecies

The 'alba' form, documented from Missouri, exhibits complete or near-complete loss of pink pigmentation, appearing white or cream with faint pink markings.