Insect · GBIF taxon 5118348
Cocoa Tussock Moth
Orgyia posticaAlso known as Hevea Tussock Moth
Cocoa tussock moths display dramatic sexual dimorphism, with winged brown males flying actively while flightless, grub-like females remain perched atop their pupal cocoons to emit pheromones. Voracious caterpillars sport bright yellow dorsal hair brushes and stinging pencils of setae that deter most foliage-gleaning predators. Because the larvae feed on dozens of tropical trees, including rubber, tea, and cacao, population spikes can rapidly defoliate entire agroforestry plots.
NocturnalAgricultural PestDimorphic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Polyphagous herbivore feeding on leaves of cacao, rubber, tea, mango, and diverse rainforest foliage
Predators
- Parasitoid wasps
- Shield bugs
- Insectivorous birds
ThreatsParasitoid wasps, viral and fungal epizootics, and targeted pesticide applications
HabitatsTropical rainforests, agroforestry plantations, secondary growth, and disturbed lowlands
Life span1 to 2 months total (adults live only 3 to 7 days)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyErebidae
- GenusOrgyia
- SpeciesOrgyia postica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Caterpillars possess urticating hairs that cause painful rash and swelling; do not touch bare-handed.
- Why it is dangerous
- Larval setae easily break off upon contact, releasing irritating histamines that cause acute dermatitis, stinging, redness, and itching.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for distinct dense yellow-white dorsal hair tufts, red head capsules, and elongated dark hair pencils extending front and rear.
- What to do
- Examine caterpillars from a safe distance without disturbing foliage; use adhesive tape to lift stray hairs from skin if accidentally brushed.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for fuzzy grey cocoons on the undersides of plantation leaves.
- Safety: Never handle the bristly caterpillars directly, as broken spines trigger contact dermatitis.
Host Plant no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · cc0
Host Plant (c) Cheongweei Gan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Cheongweei Gan · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) SteveM4560, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Fyn Kynd · cc-by-sa
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Found in Collections
Species set
Moonlight Marvels
Cocoa Tussock Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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