Fauna
Insect

White-marked Tussock Moth

Orgyia leucostigma

Also known as White-Marked Tussock

White-marked tussock moth caterpillars are instantly recognizable by their coral-red heads, bright yellow stripes, and four toothbrush-like tufts of white hair along their backs. While adult males are modest gray-brown moths, females are completely wingless and spend their brief adult lives laying sticky egg masses on their original cocoons. Their voracious caterpillars feed on a huge variety of deciduous and coniferous trees, occasionally erupting in localized population booms.

CaterpillarDefoliatorColorful
White-marked Tussock Moth reference1 / 7
(c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Fyn Kynd · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyOak leaves, Maple leaves, Birch leaves
Predators
  • Birds
  • Parasitoid wasps
  • Spiders
ThreatsPesticides, habitat loss, heavy bird predation
HabitatsDeciduous forests, mixed woodlands, orchards, urban parks
Life span1 year (egg to adult)
Classification
  1. OrderLepidoptera
  2. FamilyErebidae
  3. GenusOrgyia
  4. SpeciesOrgyia leucostigma
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
Larval hairs cause painful skin rashes; observe without touching bare-handed.
Why it is dangerous
Barbed hairs embedded across the caterpillar's body contain skin-irritating toxins that cause severe itching, welts, and contact dermatitis.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a bright coral-red head, yellow body stripes, four dense white tufts, and long black hair pencils at either end.
What to do
Never touch larvae with bare hands; use a stiff leaf or twig to move them safely off paths.
Responsible observation
  • Field Identification: Spot caterpillars late in summer on oak, maple, or willow leaves by their distinct red heads and hair tufts.
  • Observation Safety: Enjoy viewing these colorful larvae without touching them directly, as their hairs induce skin rashes.
  • Garden Management: Use thick gloves or a soft brush when removing hungry caterpillars from young landscape trees.
Related species
Keep collecting in Fauna

Found in Collections

Species set

Moonlight Marvels

White-marked Tussock Moth is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.

—/7
Continue in the app
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…