Spotted Tussock Moth

Lophocampa maculata

The Spotted Tussock Moth, Mottled Tiger or Spotted Halisidota is a moth of the Arctiidae family. It is found across Canada, the western parts of the United States, south in Appalachians to South Carolina and Kentucky.
Spotted Tussock Moth At a later stage in their life these guys develop a slightly different pattern, with black patches at each end, kind of like a wooly bear Fall,Geotagged,Lophocampa maculata,Lophocampa maculate,United States,moth week 2018

Appearance

The wingspan is 35–45 mm. The moth flies from May to July; the larvae remain from July to September. There is one generation per year.
A Caterpillar of the Spotted Tussock Moth. This fellow was in the middle of the trail waiting for me to take its photo. One of this caterpillar’s hosts is the maple and it is resting on a Bigleaf Maple leaf! Canada,Geotagged,Lophocampa maculata,Spotted Tussock Moth,Summer

Naming

Named "Tussock moth" for the tufts of hair on the caterpillar. According to Wiktionary, a tussock is a tuft or clump of green grass or similar verdure, forming a small hillock.

⤷ ''Lophocampa maculata maculata''
⤷ ''Lophocampa maculata agassizii''
⤷ ''Lophocampa maculata texana''
Spotted Tussock moth - early instar Lophocampa maculata,Spotted Tussock Moth

Food

The larvae feed on the leaves of poplar and willow, but also feed on alder, basswood, birch, maple and oak.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyErebidae
GenusLophocampa
SpeciesL. maculata
Photographed in
Canada
United States of America