Hodges#8140
Hyphantria cunea
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Superfamily: Noctuoidea
- Family: Erebidae
- Subfamily: Arctiinae
- Tribe: Arctiini
- Subtribe: Spilosomina
- Genus: Hyphantria
- Species: cunea
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hyphantria cunea: /hɪˈfæntɹiə ˈkjuːniə/
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Images
Summary
Hyphantria cunea, the Fall Webworm, is a moth known for its webbed nests made by larvae on hardwood trees. While it is a pest that can defoliate foliage, it primarily does not harm healthy trees and is well known to tree services. Its distribution has extended worldwide due to introductions, particularly in Europe and Asia.
Physical Characteristics
Adult wingspan approximately 30-42 mm; adults can be all white or marked with dark grayish-brown to black spots, which are rectangular or wedge-shaped. Larvae can be yellowish or greenish with dark dorsal stripes and long whitish hairs or reddish with orange tubercles.
Identification Tips
Key identification markers include the color of the tibiae and tarsi of the forelegs; H. cunea may have immaculate pale specimens or completely black, while S. virginica has predominantly white tibiae and tarsi with black banding. The egg mass of H. cunea is very pale green.
Habitat
Occurs in various environments where host plants are present, primarily in deciduous forests or urban areas where trees are accessible.
Distribution
Native to North America (Canada to Mexico); introduced to Europe, parts of Asia including China, Korea, and Japan. Now considered holarctic in distribution.
Diet
Polyphagous; feeds on over 636 species of hardwood trees, including common hosts like cherry, walnut, and maple.
Life Cycle
Life cycle includes egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult stages. One generation per year in the north; multiple generations in the south. Larvae emerge in late summer and overwinter as pupae.
Reproduction
Females lay up to 1,500 eggs in a mass covered with abdominal hairs, usually on the undersurface of leaves of host plants.
Predators
Predators include Monomorium minimum, Vespula spp., Coleomegilla maculata, and Rogas hyphantriae.
Ecosystem Role
Inhabits tree limbs creating webs that can strip foliage and affect tree health; considered a pest but generally does not harm healthy trees.
Economic Impact
Economic impact due to defoliation of trees can affect commercial tree services and horticulture; often considered a nuisance in parks and recreational areas.
Cultural Significance
Known as 'fuzzy tree' in the Southern U.S. because of the webs it creates, impacting aesthetics and potentially leading to tree removal in aesthetic-focused areas.
Collecting Methods
- Light traps for adults
- manual collection of larvae and webs
Preservation Methods
- Pinning
- Preserving in ethanol for molecular analysis
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Often confused with Spilosoma congrua and S. virginica, especially when present in overlapping ranges.
Tags
- invasive species
- pest
- Lepidoptera
- Erebidae