Pink Lymantria (Lymantria mathura) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The pink Lymantria is an Asian moth and a close cousin of the spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth); it isn't known to live in the United States. In its homeland its caterpillars can strip the leaves from oaks and other broadleaf trees, so U.S. pest surveys watch for it as a possible invader. It is also called the rosy or rosy gypsy moth.

Appearance

Appearance: A stout, hairy moth. Females are much bigger than males, with a wingspan of about 3.3 in (84 mm) versus about 1.8 in (46 mm). Females have pink hindwings; males have yellow hindwings.

Look-alikes

Spongy mothLymantria dispar

Look for pink: pink Lymantria females have pink hindwings, and males have yellow hindwings. Fresh egg masses are yellow and turn gray, while spongy moth egg masses are brown.

Why they get mixed upIt's in the same genus, with a similar build, hairy caterpillars, and egg masses on bark. The spongy moth is the one that actually lives in the U.S.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Oak forests
Broadleaf woodlands
Range: Native to East and South Asia: the Russian Far East, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Nepal, and northern India. It is not known to be established in the U.S. or Canada.
Preferred conditions: Caterpillars feed on the leaves of many broadleaf trees, including oaks, apples, pears, cherries, plums, and beeches.

Behavior

Activity: Adults come to lights at night. In the Russian Far East they have been recorded flying mostly between 1 and 3 a.m.
Overwintering: Females lay egg masses on tree bark and cover them with hairs from the tip of the abdomen. The eggs spend the winter there.

Life cycle

Breeding season: One generation a year in Japan and Korea; two in India.
Larva: Young caterpillars drift on the wind to new trees. Older caterpillars are stout and bristly, with long tufts of hair at the front and rear.