Halysidota

Hübner, 1819

tussock moths

Species Guides

Halysidota cinctipes(Florida Tussock Moth)
Halysidota davisii(Davis' Tussock Moth)
Halysidota harrisii(Sycamore Tussock Moth)
Halysidota schausi(Schaus' tussock moth)
Halysidota tessellaris(Banded Tussock Moth)

Halysidota is a of arctiine tussock moths in the Erebidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819. The genus contains approximately 40 described distributed primarily in the Americas, with records from the United States through Central and South America to the Caribbean. Several species are well-known, including Halysidota tessellaris (pale tiger moth or banded tussock moth) and Halysidota harrisii (sycamore tussock moth). The genus has been subject to ongoing taxonomic revision, with new species and described as recently as 2017.

Halysidota tessellaris by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Halysidota davisii by (c) John Rosford, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John Rosford. Used under a CC-BY license.

Halysidota davisii by (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Halysidota: //ˌhæ.lɪˈsaɪ.doʊ.tə//

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Images

Distribution

The Halysidota occurs in the Americas, with documented records from the United States (including Vermont), Mexico, Central America, South America (including Brazil, specifically Minas Gerais), and the Caribbean (including Guadeloupe). -level distributions vary; for example, Halysidota pearsoni has been recorded in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and Halysidota leda guadulpensis occurs in Guadeloupe.

More Details

Taxonomic History

The Halysidota was established by Jacob Hübner in 1819 within the Erebidae (formerly placed in ). The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, with new continuing to be described. Halysidota witti was described as a new species from Mexico in 2017, and Halysidota leda guadulpensis was described as a new from Guadeloupe in the same year.

Notable Species

Halysidota tessellaris (Smith, 1797), known as the pale tiger moth or banded tussock moth, is among the most frequently encountered . Halysidota harrisii (Walsh, 1864), the sycamore tussock moth, and Halysidota cinctipes (Grote, 1865), the Florida tussock moth, are North American species with established . Halysidota davisii (H. Edwards, 1874) is known as Davis' tussock moth, and Halysidota schausi (Rothschild, 1909) as Schaus' tussock moth.

Parasitoid Associations

Halysidota serve as for tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae). Halysidota pearsoni has been documented as a host for Leschenaultia bicolor in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Female L. bicolor are attracted to volatile compounds released by host plants in response to caterpillar herbivory and deposit microtype on leaves, which are subsequently ingested by host caterpillars.