Species · GBIF taxon 1865862
Rosy Maple Moth
Dryocampa rubicundaAlso known as Greenstriped Mapleworm Moth
Rosy maple moths are vibrant, woolly insects easily recognized by their striking pink and yellow coloration, which mimics the seeds of the maple trees they frequent. Active primarily at night, these small silk moths do not feed as adults, relying entirely on energy stored during their caterpillar stage. Females release pheromones from the ground or tree trunks, which males detect using their highly sensitive, feathery antennae.
NocturnalColorfulDeciduous Forests
Licensed referenceAndy Reago & Chrissy McClarren / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Maple leaves
- Oak leaves
Predators
- Blue jays
- Tufted titmice
- Bats
ThreatsLight pollution, habitat fragmentation, and pesticide use
HabitatsDeciduous forests, suburban gardens, and maple groves
Life span2 to 10 months
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySaturniidae
- SpeciesDryocampa rubicunda
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
- Check Porch Lights: Look near outdoor light fixtures early in the morning where they often rest after being drawn to the glow.
- Look on Maples: Search the undersides of maple leaves for their tiny, yellow eggs in late spring.
- Observe Antennae: Notice the feathery antennae on males, used to sniff out female pheromones.
Host Plant no rights reserved, uploaded by mefisher · cc0
Host Plant (c) James St. John, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative "Lovely luna moth at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery" by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.