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Banded Tussock Moth - Halysidota tessellaris Total length: ~25 mm. Pale pinkish tan forewing with irregular pattern of slightly darker bands. Thorax has blue and yellow dorsal stripes. Orange, fuzzy abdomen.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Attracted to a black light in a semi-rural area. There were more than 20 of these moths fluttering around my light last night!<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/81719/banded_tussock_moth_-_halysidota_tessellaris.html" title="Banded Tussock Moth - Halysidota tessellaris"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/81719_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1613001610&Signature=s1rxwMcJWhKSHYfkXr4CdKcHP6Q%3D" width="120" height="152" alt="Banded Tussock Moth - Halysidota tessellaris Total length: ~25 mm. Pale pinkish tan forewing with irregular pattern of slightly darker bands. Thorax has blue and yellow dorsal stripes. Orange, fuzzy abdomen.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Attracted to a black light in a semi-rural area. There were more than 20 of these moths fluttering around my light last night!<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/81718/banded_tussock_moth_-_halysidota_tessellaris.html Banded tussock moth,Geotagged,Halysidota tessellaris,Summer,United States" /></a></figure> Banded tussock moth,Geotagged,Halysidota tessellaris,Summer,United States Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Banded Tussock Moth - Halysidota tessellaris

Total length: ~25 mm. Pale pinkish tan forewing with irregular pattern of slightly darker bands. Thorax has blue and yellow dorsal stripes. Orange, fuzzy abdomen.

Habitat: Attracted to a black light in a semi-rural area. There were more than 20 of these moths fluttering around my light last night!

Banded Tussock Moth - Halysidota tessellaris Total length: ~25 mm. Pale pinkish tan forewing with irregular pattern of slightly darker bands. Thorax has blue and yellow dorsal stripes. Orange, fuzzy abdomen.<br /> <br /> Habitat: Attracted to a black light in a semi-rural area. There were more than 20 of these moths fluttering around my light last night!<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/81718/banded_tussock_moth_-_halysidota_tessellaris.html Banded tussock moth,Geotagged,Halysidota tessellaris,Summer,United States

    comments (6)

  1. View Lisa Kimmerling's profile
    Lisa Kimmerling
    Lion
    View Lion class
    I thought H. tessellaris and H. harrisii were only distinguishable via dissection on the East coast? Posted one year ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Not quite. If you brush the scales off the tip of a male's abdomen, you can differentiate them. Posted one year ago
      1. View Lisa Kimmerling's profile
        Lisa Kimmerling
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Can you explain this process to me? What would I look for? Posted one year ago
        1. View Christine Young's profile
          Christine Young
          Lion
          View Lion class
          Even better...Here are some photos showing what to look for. There may be a way to do it without killing the moth, but sadly I killed one to check it out. Do you have a scope?

          https://bugguide.net/node/view/1626407           Posted one year ago
  3. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
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    Excellent shot! Posted one year ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks! Posted one year ago

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The Banded tussock moth

''Halysidota tessellaris'', also called the banded tussock moth, tessellated halisidota, and pale tiger moth, is in Erebidae. Like many related species, it has chemical defenses it acquires from its host plants, in this case, alkaloids, at least in adults. Larval brazen behaviours suggest that they are chemically protected; they have not been analyzed for alkaloid content.

Info 22 0
Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Christine Young
View Christine Young's profile

By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jul 12, 2019. Captured Jul 11, 2019 20:51 in 5 East St, New Milford, CT 06776, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 26,164 7,127 8
  • Canon EOS 80D
  • f/5.6
  • 1/64s
  • ISO400
  • 100mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.