Moths of the Cathance

Maine Forestry Service CREA is a participant in a Maine Forestry Service study of invasive moth species. All species in this slide show have been collected, at one time or another, by the light trap set up just behind the Ecology Center.

Hickory Tussock White and black and covered in graysih- white hairs Feed on the leaves of hardwoods Larvae feed for eight weeks beginning in July Winter is spent as pupae in coccoons under litter in the soil

Fall Webworm Feeds on more than 100 species of trees Adults appear from May to August Deposit eggs in hair covered masses of several hundred each Larvae are pale yellow- green with a broad stripe down the back Cocoons are usually spun in the duff or just beneath the soil

Rosy Maple Feed on maple and oak trees Wings are yellow to cream white, pink at the margins of the wings Lay eggs on the leaves of plants; eggs hatch two weeks later Caterpillars overwinter in shallow underground chambers

Leafrollers Heavily mottled with reddish to blackish brown – this helps them camouflage themselves on dead leaves Feed on the leaves of fruiting trees, maple, clover, sassafras There are two broods of leafrollers each year (spring and fall) Larvae tie the tips of leaves together and feed within

Forest Tent Moth is yellow or tan with a thick, short, furry body Name comes from a silky sheet they weave where they lie together during molting Feed on oak, sweetgum, tupelo, aspen, and maple trees Eggs are stuck to twigs and covered with a gluey cement These caterpillars are considered a problem when they first hatch and consumer an entire tree’s foliage

Variable Oakleaf Wings are grey colored with three darker, wavy, and diffused lines Feeds on oaks, reds, willow, beech, paper birch, and elm Harmful to tree life only after 3 years of severe outbreaks Eggs are laid on the lower leaf surface Overwinter in cocoons under leaf litter Repeated handling of the larvae causes blisters due to an acid they secrete

Satin Moth Moths have a black body covered with white scales and hair; wings are white Cause severe defoliation of aspen trees but also feed on poplars and poplars Moths appear in early July Hibernate in a silky web in cracks in the bark of a tree

Large Aspen Adult is brownish grey with markings on its wings Eggs are laid en Feeds on poplar, birch, willows, aspen Overwinter in moss and bark crevices at the base of trees and beaneath dead bark near the tree

Peppered Moth Caterpillars overwinter, live, in the soil The moths rest in trees during the day The caterpillar mimics twigs to hide itself from predators The peppered colored wings act as camouflage and hide the moths from birds who look for reflected light This moth has been studied extensively as evidence of evolution

Red Humped Caterpillar Adults have reddish to grayish brown forewings and the hind wings are gray to brown colored Larvae feed on a wide range of trees Eggs are laid on the undersides of young leaves Overwinter in cocoons on the ground This species can through four or five generations a year

Saddled Prominent Adults are brownish-gray with a 1.5-2in wingspan Feed on beech, sugar maple, birch, and oak This moth can cause severe defoliation Eggs are laid on the underside of hardwood leaves Can induce a toxic skin reaction if handled Overwinter in the upper two layers of soil and leaf litter

Coneworms Feeds on a variety of pine trees This is one of the most damaging insect pests of pine seed orchards Adults have dark grey to black forewings boldly patterned with contrasting white patches and crossbands; the hind wings are light grey to tan in color Overwinters at the base of persistent cones and under bud stems

Oak Leafshred Adults are small yellow moths with brown markings Feeds on red oak mostly as well as other oaks Overwintering moth eggs on the bark of smaller branches hatch in May

Spruce Budworm Forewings and body mottled orange and brown; hindwings gray-brown Feeds on douglas fir, balsam and spruce Eggs are laid on almost any surface Larva bore into and feed on needles or expanding buds Old staminate flower bracts, bud scales, and bark crevices are used as overwintering sites

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