Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 1867022

Spiny Oakworm Moth

Anisota stigma

Also known as Spiny Oakworm

Spiny oakworm moths display striking warm ochre to reddish-brown wings speckled with fine dark dots and marked by a bright white cell spot on each forewing. Caterpillars feature a pair of prominent long black horns behind the head and rows of short spines along their body, feeding together on oak foliage in late summer. Adults emerge with reduced mouthparts, living only a few days entirely dedicated to mating and egg laying.

NocturnalMothOak Woodland
Spiny Oakworm Moth reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Marvin Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Oak leaves
  • Chestnut leaves
  • Hazel leaves
Predators
  • Songbirds
  • Bats
  • Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsPesticide spraying, light pollution, habitat loss
HabitatsDeciduous forests, oak savannas, suburban woodlands
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. OrderLepidoptera
  2. FamilySaturniidae
  3. GenusAnisota
  4. SpeciesAnisota stigma
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Light Attraction: Look for adult moths near porch lights or illuminated walls on summer nights.
  • Leaf Inspection: Search lower oak foliage in late summer to spot feeding caterpillar clusters.
  • Gentle Observation: View caterpillars on branches rather than handling to avoid pricking from spines.
Related species
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Found in Collections

Species set

Moonlight Marvels

Spiny Oakworm Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.

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