Insect · GBIF taxon 1732717
American Lappet Moth
Phyllodesma americanaAmerican lappet moths are extraordinary dead-leaf mimics whose resting posture perfectly conceals them among dried foliage, with scalloped, reddish-brown wings held flat or tented. Caterpillars feature flattened lateral body flaps, known as lappets, that help them blend seamlessly against tree bark during the day. When disturbed, the caterpillar rears up to expose bright orange or red velvety folds between its thoracic segments, startling potential predators.
CamouflagedNocturnalWoodland
Licensed referenceno rights reserved · cc0
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Oak foliage
- Willow foliage
- Poplar foliage
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Bats
- Spiders
ThreatsArtificial light pollution, habitat loss, and broad-spectrum pesticide spraying
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, shrublands, and suburban parks
Life span1 year (adult stage lasts 7–14 days)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyLasiocampidae
- GenusPhyllodesma
- SpeciesPhyllodesma americana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Attracting with lights: Set up a UV blacklight sheet near woodland margins during spring and early summer nights.
- Examining bark: Search tree trunks by day for caterpillars pressed completely flat against the crevices.
Host Plant (c) Alicia Ballard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator (c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family "Eastern Tent Caterpillar" by treegrow is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Same Family no rights reserved, uploaded by Jack Gelinas · cc0
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Moonlight Marvels
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