Tussock Moths (Family Lymantriidae)
From Bugwoodwiki
Maier, C.T.; Lemmon, C.R.; Fengler, J.M.; Schweitzer, D.F.; Reardon, R.C.; Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. Morgantown, WV. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. FHTET-2004-01. March 2004. 151 p.
Most of the caterpillars in this small family are hairy with prominent red, yellow, gray, or black tufts of hairs. They have fully developed prolegs on A3 to A6 and A10. Their crochets of uniform length are arranged in a single row that is parallel to the body axis. When the caterpillars are mature, they typically are 20 to 65 mm long. Lymantriids can be separated from similar caterpillars in other families by the presence of a dorsal gland on A6 and usually A7.
Many of the species in this family feed upon a variety of non-coniferous trees and shrubs. The caterpillars usually change to pupae in a loose cocoon, which may be composed of body hairs. One infamous introduced species is the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, which has been a major target of research by the Forest Service.
The moths fly either during the day or the night. Females of the gypsy moth and a few other species have fully developed wings, although they do not fly. Females of Dasychira do fly and come readily to lights at night. Non-flying females of Orgyia species are unique among North American species in the family because they have wings that are reduced to small pads.
