Insect
Banded Tussock Moth
Halysidota tessellarisAlso known as Pale Tiger Moth, Tessellated Halisidota, Tessellated Tussock Moth
Banded tussock moth caterpillars are densely coated in soft, yellowish hairs with long, striking pencil-like tufts of orange, black, and white setae at each end. Adults feature delicate, semi-translucent yellowish wings marked with subtle bluish-green to light brown bands across the forewings. During the larval stage, caterpillars feed on a wide variety of hardwood trees and accumulate plant-derived alkaloids that render adults unpalatable to bats and avian predators.
CaterpillarNight FlyingFluffy
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyOak leaves, Willow leaves, Birch leaves
Predators
- Spiders
- Parasitoid Wasps
- Birds
ThreatsLight pollution, broad-spectrum pesticides, and habitat destruction
HabitatsDeciduous forests, woodlands, parks, and suburban yards
Life span1 year (adults live 1 to 2 weeks)
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyErebidae
- GenusHalysidota
- SpeciesHalysidota tessellaris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Caterpillar hairs can cause skin irritation; observe without touching or wear gloves.
- Why it is dangerous
- Setae (hairs) on the caterpillars contain mild barbed structures that can cause contact dermatitis, itching, or localized hives.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a dense fuzzy caterpillar with grayish-yellow body hair and prominent long orange, black, and white pencil tufts at both ends.
- What to do
- Observe without touching, or use a stick or leaf to gently move caterpillars off walkways.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Caterpillars: Search broadleaf tree foliage from late summer through early autumn.
- Attracting Adults: Set up a blacklight or white sheet on warm, humid summer nights.
- Safe Handling: Use a twig or leaf to gently move caterpillars rather than bare hands.
Ecological Peer (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) David George, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David George · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Cyndy Sims Parr, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Member "Woolly Bear Caterpillar Spotted!" by soomness is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Banded Tussock Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
—/7
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.