Orgyia leuschneri

Riotte, 1972

Box-elder Tussock Moth

Orgyia leuschneri, the box-elder tussock , is a of tussock moth in the Erebidae. It is native to North America. The species is assigned Hodges number 8315. Like other members of the Orgyia, females are wingless and flightless, while males possess wings.

Orgyia leuschneri by (c) jimeckert49, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Orgyia leuschneri: //ˈɔːr.dʒi.ə ˈlɔɪʃ.nɛr.i//

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Identification

Orgyia leuschneri can be distinguished from other Orgyia by association with its plant, box-elder (Acer negundo). Males have feathery typical of the . Females are wingless with a compact, hairy body. The caterpillars display characteristic tussock features including dense tufts of hair (tussocks) and paired glands.

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Habitat

Associated with box-elder (Acer negundo) plants. Found in environments where this tree occurs, including riparian areas, disturbed sites, and urban and suburban settings.

Distribution

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

Diet

Larvae feed on box-elder (Acer negundo).

Host Associations

  • Acer negundo - larval : box-elder

Life Cycle

Females are wingless and remain on or near their cocoon after , where they emit to attract flying males. are laid on or near the female's cocoon. Larvae progress through instars, feeding on foliage. occurs in a silk cocoon incorporating larval hairs.

Behavior

Females are flightless and sedentary, calling males from their cocoon location. Males are active fliers and locate females using cues.

Human Relevance

The references association with box-elder, a widely distributed North American tree . The species is not documented as a significant pest in available sources.

Similar Taxa

  • Orgyia antiquaVapourer , a congeneric with similar wingless female and tussock caterpillar appearance; distinguished by geographic range and plant associations
  • Orgyia pseudotsugataDouglas-fir Tussock Moth, a related with similar ; distinguished by association with coniferous rather than box-elder

More Details

Hodges Number

8315

Taxonomic Note

Described by Riotte in 1972. The epithet 'leuschneri' is a patronym, though the honoree is not specified in available sources.

Sources and further reading