Insect · GBIF taxon 5925317
White-marked Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaAlso 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
1 / 7—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
- 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)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyErebidae
- GenusOrgyia
- SpeciesOrgyia leucostigma
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- 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.
Close Relative NCBioTeacher / CC0 · cc0
Close Relative (c) SteveM4560, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Similar Family Member (c) David George, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by David George · cc-by
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Species set
Moonlight Marvels
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