The oriental moth is an East Asian slug moth whose spiny caterpillar can give a painful, irritating sting. In the US it has been recorded only in Massachusetts, where it has stayed confined since the early 1900s, and there are no recent US records.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Adults have a wingspan of about 1.2–1.5 in (30–39 mm); the thorax and inner forewings are pale yellow and the rest is light reddish brown. Full-grown caterpillars are about 3/4–1 in (18–24 mm) long, with spiny horns and bright yellow, green, blue, and purple markings.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Orchards
- Shade trees
- Urban trees
- Range
- Native to China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Russian Far East. In North America it has been recorded only in Massachusetts, where it spread just 25–30 miles in its first 40 years.
- When to see it
In Massachusetts
Active Jun–Jul
Behavior
- Diet
- Caterpillars eat the leaves of many broadleaf trees, including maples, oaks, elms, willows, apple, pear, cherry, and plum.
- Overwintering
- The grown caterpillar spends the winter inside a hard, smooth, oval cocoon that looks like a tiny bird's egg, usually tucked into the fork of a twig or branch. It turns into a pupa in May.
Life cycle
- Breeding season
- One generation a year in the US: adults fly late June to July.
Cautions
- Cautions
- The caterpillar's spines can cause serious skin irritation and inflammation. Avoid touching them.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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