Larch Tolype (Tolype laricis)

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Subphylum	Hexapoda
Class	Insecta
Subclass	Pterygota
Infraclass	Neoptera
Superorder	Holometabola
Order	Lepidoptera
Superfamily	Lasiocampoidea
Family	Lasiocampidae
Subfamily	Macromphaliinae
Genus	Tolype

Scientific Name

Tolype laricis

Common Name

larch moth

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.

Description

Grayish, somewhat flattened, body with paired subdorsal tubercles and subspiracular lappets; variable body color. Gray head with darker reticulation; black horizontal line before spiracle on T1. Dorsum with yellowish areas, especially near tubercles, and also with irregular white patches that may extend to spiracles (particularly on A1); transverse black band on T3, revealed especially during movement. Subdorsal tubercles on T3 and A5 (the largest) larger than ones on other segments; tubercles connected with zigzag, speckled, dark gray line. Angular, speckled spiracular stripe, although almost pure black between T3 and A1, A4 and A5, and A6 and A7; black spiracles. Subspiracular row of fleshy lappets with long grayish hairs. Up to 35 mm.

Food

Many conifers, including balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern larch, pines, and spruces.

Life Cycle

One generation. Egg overwinters. Mature caterpillar present mainly in July and August.

Comments

Franclemont (1973) has reported that this caterpillar is brownish; however, in southern New England, we have seen mainly the mostly grayish form. When this caterpillar rests on grayish bark, it is extremely difficult to see. The adult is known as the larch lappet moth.