Insect · GBIF taxon 5143952
Fall Cankerworm Moth
Alsophila pometariaAlso known as Fall Cankerworm
Fall cankerworm moths exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism, with greyish males flying late in autumn while wingless females crawl up tree trunks to lay dense, barrel-shaped egg masses. Caterpillars emerge in early spring to loop along broadleaf foliage, often dropping on silk threads to catch wind currents. Periodic population surges can defoliate entire woodland stands, though healthy native trees usually recover full foliage later in the season.
NocturnalForest DefoliatorSexual Dimorphism
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Oak leaves
- Maple leaves
- Elm leaves
Predators
- Songbirds
- Ground beetles
- Spiders
ThreatsLate spring freezes, parasitic wasps, avian predation, and chemical sprays
HabitatsDeciduous forests, mixed woodlands, suburban parklands, and orchards
Life span1 year total; adults live 1–2 weeks
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyGeometridae
- GenusAlsophila
- SpeciesAlsophila pometaria
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
- Trunk Monitoring: Wrap sticky barriers around tree trunks in late autumn to spot crawling wingless females.
- Night Spotting: Look for delicate greyish males fluttering around outdoor lights on chilly November evenings.
- Spring Larvae: Inspect fresh spring leaves on oaks and maples for silk threads and tiny looping inchworms.
Ecological Equivalent (c) Gilles San Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gilles San Martin · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Rose Zappa, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rose Zappa · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Species set
Moonlight Marvels
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