Tree-of-heaven

Guides

• Atteva

  ermine moths, ailanthus webworms

  Atteva is the sole genus in the family Attevidae, a group of small to medium-sized moths within the superfamily Yponomeutoidea. The genus has a pantropical distribution with approximately 70 described species. Most species occur in tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, though Atteva aurea has expanded into temperate North America following the introduction of its host plant, Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven). Adults are often strikingly patterned in orange, black, and white, and several species are diurnal nectar feeders rather than nocturnal.

  AttevidaeYponomeutoideapantropicaldiurnal-mothsailanthus-webwormbiological-controlTree-of-Heavenweb-forming-caterpillarsorange-and-black-mothsvagabond-speciesSimaroubaceaedefoliators

• Atteva aurea

  Ailanthus Webworm Moth, Ermine Moth

  Atteva aurea, commonly known as the ailanthus webworm moth or ermine moth, is a small, colorful moth native to Central America and the southern United States that has expanded its range northward following the introduction and spread of its host plant, the invasive Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). The adult moth displays striking orange, black, and white coloration and is active during daylight hours, feeding on nectar from flowers such as ageratum. The larval stage, known as the ailanthus webworm, constructs communal silken webs on host plants and feeds on leaves, with the potential to defoliate small trees. The species has been proposed as a potential biological control agent for the invasive Tree of Heaven.

  biological-controlinvasive-species-managementdiurnal-mothmigratorywebwormTree-of-Heavenpollinatorurban-ecology