Hardwood-feeder
Guides
Acronicta hastulifera
Frosted Dagger Moth
Acronicta hastulifera, commonly known as the frosted dagger moth, is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae. First described by James Edward Smith in 1797, it is native to the northeastern United States with a range extending south to Georgia. The species is part of a complex that includes the large gray dagger moth, and its larvae feed on various hardwood trees.
Acronicta lithospila
Streaked Dagger, streaked dagger moth
Acronicta lithospila is a noctuid moth commonly known as the streaked dagger moth. Described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1874, this species occurs in eastern North America from Canada south to the United States. Adults fly during summer months, and larvae feed on hardwood trees including hickory, oak, and chestnut.
Ancylis divisana
Two-toned Ancylis Moth
Ancylis divisana, the two-toned ancylis moth, is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 10–13 mm. It is broadly distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from 21 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Adults are active from March through October, and larvae feed on several hardwood tree species including oaks, chestnut, hornbeam, and sycamore.
Choristoneura albaniana
Choristoneura albaniana is a tortricid moth first described by Francis Walker in 1863. The species occurs across boreal and montane regions of North America and the northern Palearctic. Larvae feed on Prunus pennsylvanica (pin cherry) and Larix species (larches), making it a conifer and hardwood specialist within its genus.
Coleophora ostryae
Coleophora ostryae is a small case-bearing moth in the family Coleophoridae. It is found in eastern North America, with records from Maryland and Ontario. The larvae construct distinctive spatulate leaf cases and feed on the foliage of several hardwood tree genera.
Datana
Datana is a genus of prominent moths in the family Notodontidae, erected by Francis Walker in 1855. The genus comprises approximately 13 described species distributed across North America. Larvae of Datana species are known defoliators of hardwood trees and are among the common late-season defoliators of southern U.S. forests. Several species are notable agricultural and ornamental pests, particularly on pecan and walnut trees.
Dichomeris ligulella
palmerworm, Palmerworm Moth
Dichomeris ligulella, commonly known as the palmerworm, is a small gelechiid moth native to eastern North America. Adults are active from spring through fall with a single generation per year. The species is economically notable as a foliar feeder on several hardwood trees and orchard crops.
Enargia fausta
Etched Sallow
Enargia fausta is a noctuid moth described by Schmidt in 2010. It is restricted to the boreal forest and boreal-deciduous forest transition zone of North America, ranging from central Alberta to New Brunswick with eastern records extending to the Ottawa River Valley. The species was long confused with Enargia infumata due to morphological similarity but differs in its more limited geographic distribution, lacking the Rocky Mountain and northern extensions of that species. Adults are active in late summer, and larvae feed on specific hardwood tree species.
Panopoda rufimargo
Red-lined Panopoda, Red-lined Panopoda Moth
Panopoda rufimargo, the red-lined panopoda, is a noctuid moth in the family Erebidae first described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The species is widely distributed across North America and is a common subject of citizen science observations. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. The caterpillars are documented feeders on hardwood trees including pignut hickory and northern red oak.
Phaeoura quernaria
oak beauty, American Oak Beauty
Phaeoura quernaria, commonly known as the oak beauty or American Oak Beauty, is a geometrid moth native to eastern North America. The species is notable for its salt-and-pepper patterned wings that provide effective bark camouflage. It exhibits bivoltine or univoltine life cycles depending on latitude, with adults active from late winter through autumn. Larvae feed on various hardwood trees and the species overwinters as pupae.
Phigalia titea
Half-wing Moth, Spiny Looper
Phigalia titea, commonly known as the Half-wing Moth or Spiny Looper, is a geometrid moth native to eastern North America. Adult males have fully developed wings with an average wingspan of approximately 34 mm, while females are wingless (apterous). The species is notable for its exceptionally early adult activity period in late winter and early spring, making it one of the first moths to appear each year. Larvae are polyphagous loopers (inchworms) that feed on a wide variety of deciduous hardwood trees and can cause significant defoliation during outbreak years.
Phyllophaga micans
May beetle, June beetle
Phyllophaga micans is a scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as a May beetle or June beetle. Adults measure 15–17 mm in length and are characterized by a dark body with a distinctive pale, dust-like coating. The species is found in eastern and central North America, where adults feed on hardwood trees. Like other members of the genus Phyllophaga, larvae develop as white grubs in soil, feeding on plant roots.
Pococera asperatella
Maple Webworm Moth
Pococera asperatella, commonly known as the maple webworm moth, is a pyralid moth native to North America. Adults are characterized by their powdery gray coloration. The species has one generation per year. Larvae feed on foliage of hardwood trees, particularly maple (Acer) and sumac (Rhus) species. The caterpillars are known prey of the four-toothed mason wasp (Monobia quadridens), which paralyzes them to provision its nest cells.
Polydrusus
Polydrusus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, subfamily Entiminae, containing dozens of species distributed across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Several species have been introduced to North America and have become established in northern hardwood forests, where some function as polyphagous herbivores with documented impacts on tree crops. The genus is taxonomically complex, with multiple subgenera recognized including Conocetus and Orodrusus, and has been subject to recent revisionary work clarifying species boundaries and synonymies. Polydrusus species are frequently confused with the genus Phyllobius due to superficial morphological similarities, though they are not closely related.
Sciota rubrisparsella
Sciota rubrisparsella is a species of snout moth in the family Pyralidae, subfamily Phycitinae. The genus Sciota includes several leafroller moths whose larvae feed on various hardwood trees. This species is known to be preyed upon by the mason wasp Monobia quadridens, which hunts its caterpillars as food for its own larvae.
Stigmella ostryaefoliella
Stigmella ostryaefoliella is a pygmy moth in the family Nepticulidae. The species is known from the eastern United States and Ontario, Canada. Larvae are leaf miners that feed on several hardwood genera. Adults have two generations per year.