Artaxa subflava is a yellow from East Asia whose caterpillars carry tiny irritating hairs that cause itchy rashes. It's a well-known nuisance in Japan and Korea but doesn't live in the US.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A deep yellow moth with a wide, dark brown chevron across each forewing and usually two black dots near the wingtips. The wingspan is about 1.2–1.6 in (30–40 mm); females are larger than males.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Broadleaf woods
- Orchards
- Towns and parks
- Range
- Found throughout Japan, in Korea and China, and in the southeastern Russian Far East. It does not occur in North America.
Behavior
- Overwintering
- Has one generation a year; caterpillars hatched in summer spend the winter in leaf litter and finish growing in spring.
Life cycle
- Caterpillar food plants
- In Japan, caterpillars eat the leaves of more than 100 kinds of plants, especially cherry, plum, pear, apple, oak, and chestnut.
Cautions
- Cautions
- The caterpillars' irritating hairs, only about 0.004 in (0.1 mm) long, also end up on egg masses, cocoons, and the tail tuft of adult moths, so even adults can cause a rash that itches for several weeks.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Formerly called Euproctis subflava.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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