Orgyia detrita

Guérin-Méneville, 1831

Fir Tussock Moth, Live Oak Tussock Moth

Orgyia detrita is a tussock in the Erebidae, first described by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1831. The is found in North America and is known by two reflecting its association with different plants: fir tussock moth and live oak tussock moth. The larvae possess that can cause dermatitis in humans. The species has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 8313.

Fir Tussock Moth Orgyia detrita. Lymantriidae (34501423741) by gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Fir Tussock Moth Orgyia detrita. Lymantriidae (34590691946) by gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Orgyia detrita by Wendy McCrady. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Orgyia detrita: /ˈɔr.dʒi.ə dɪˈtraɪ.tə/

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Identification

Females are wingless, a characteristic feature of the Orgyia. Males are winged and fly to locate females. The can be distinguished from other Orgyia species by geographic range and plant associations, though specific diagnostic features require examination of morphological details not provided in available sources.

Images

Habitat

Associated with coniferous forests (fir) and oak woodlands (live oak), reflecting the dual of the . The specific requirements vary with plant availability.

Distribution

North America. Specific range details within this region are not documented in available sources.

Life Cycle

Includes larval, pupal, and stages. Females are wingless and remain near their cocoons, emitting to attract flying males. Cocoons are incorporated into the structure. Specific timing of developmental stages is not documented in available sources.

Behavior

Females are sedentary and call males from their cocoons using . Males are active fliers that locate females for mating.

Human Relevance

Larvae possess that can cause dermatitis in humans upon contact. The is referenced in entomological literature with MONA/Hodges number 8313, indicating its inclusion in standardized North American classification systems.

Similar Taxa

Orgyia pseudotsugataDouglas-fir tussock moth, a related North American in the same with similar and wingless females.
Orgyia vetustaWestern tussock moth, another congeneric with similar and features.
Orgyia antiquaVapourer , a Palearctic congeneric sharing the characteristic of wingless females.

More Details

Taxonomic History

First described by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1831. The has been assigned MONA ( of North America)/Hodges number 8313, a standardized identification number used in North American lepidopteran catalogs.

Medical Significance

The of larvae are documented as causing dermatitis in humans, representing a direct human health impact from this .