Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Banded Tussock Moth is common and attractively patterned medium-sized moth. It is supposed to be indistiguishable from the Sycamore Tussock Moth (Halysidota harrisii) without dissection, but since there were no sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) in the vicinity of these photos, these are most likely Halysidota tessellaris. Caterpillars of Halysidota tessellaris feed on various trees, including Alnus, Betula, Carya, Corylus, Fraxinus, Juglans, Liriodendron, Populus, Quercus, Salix, and Ulmus.

Carroll Co., VA 6/13/09.

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Carroll Co., VA 7/1/06.

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Carroll Co., VA 7/3/05.

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Carroll Co., VA 7/4/07.

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Carroll Co., VA 7/13/07.

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Carroll Co., VA 7/14/07.

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Madison Co., NC 7/27/12

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Durham Co., NC 8/23/2013

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Caterpillars have distinctive tufts, or "tussocks".

Carroll Co., VA 9/3/05.

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Alleghany Co., NC 9/22/07.

Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris)

Carroll Co., VA 9/24/06.

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.