The Lasiocampidae are a family of moths also known as eggars, snout moths, or lappet moths. Over 2,000 species occur worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied.
The forest tent caterpillar moth is a moth found throughout North America, especially in the eastern regions. Unlike related tent caterpillar species, the larvae of forest tent caterpillars do not make tents, but rather, weave a silky sheet where they lie together during molting. They also lay down strands of silk as they move over branches and travel as groups along these pheromone-containing silk trails. The caterpillars are social, traveling together to feed and massing as a group at rest. Group behavior diminishes as the caterpillars increase in size, so that by the fifth instar (molt) the caterpillars are feeding and resting independently.
Tent caterpillars are moderately sized caterpillars, or moth larvae, belonging to the genus Malacosoma in the family Lasiocampidae. Twenty-six species have been described, six of which occur in North America and the rest in Eurasia. Some species are considered to have subspecies as well. They are often considered pests due to their habit of defoliating trees. They are among the most social of all caterpillars and exhibit many noteworthy behaviors.
Malacosoma is a genus of moths in the family Lasiocampidae first described by Jacob Hübner in 1820.
Citheronia regalis, the regal moth or royal walnut moth, is a North American moth in the family Saturniidae. The caterpillars are called hickory horned devils. The adult (imago) has a wingspan of 3.75-6.1 in (9.5-15.5 cm). The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793.
Orgyia antiqua, the rusty tussock moth or vapourer, is a moth in the family Erebidae.
The lackey moth is a moth in the family Lasiocampidae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. It is common across southern Britain and central Europe. Malacosoma species are notable for their caterpillars which are brightly coloured and form silken tents to regulate their temperature. Malacosoma neustria caterpillars are brown with blue, orange and white stripes. The adults are a fairly uniform brown. The larvae feed mainly on trees and shrubs from within their tents.
The grapeleaf skeletonizer is a moth in the family Zygaenidae. It is widespread in the eastern half of the United States, and commonly noticed defoliating grapes, especially of the Virginia creeper. The western grapeleaf skeletonizer is very similar to and slightly larger than H. americana, but their distributions are different.
Hyles gallii, the bedstraw hawk-moth or galium sphinx, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by S. A. von Rottemburg in 1775.
Malacosoma californicum, the western tent caterpillar, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It is a tent caterpillar. The Western Tent Caterpillar is found in southern Canada, the western United States, and parts of northern Mexico. There are currently six recognized subspecies of M. californicum. Western tent caterpillars are gregarious and will spend a large portion of their time with other caterpillars in silken tents constructed during their larval stage.
Malacosoma castrense, the ground lackey, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It is a tent caterpillar found in Europe. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Haploa confusa, the confused haploa or Lyman's haploa, is a moth of the family Erebidae that occurs in North America. The species was first described by H. H. Lyman in 1887. The caterpillars feed on a hound's tongue.
Amyna axis, the eight-spot, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.
Anatrachyntis rileyi, the pink cornworm, pink bud moth or pink scavenger, is a species of moth of the family Cosmopterigidae, the cosmet moths. It was first described by Lord Walsingham in 1882 from the southern United States, but it is probably an introduction to North America. It is found in much of the warm or tropical areas of the world, including northern Australia, the Galápagos Islands, Hawaii, the Antilles, South America and Mauritius.
Clostera inclusa, the angle-lined prominent moth, many-lined prominent or poplar tentmaker, is a moth of the family Notodontidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1831. It is found in North America, including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
Synchlora aerata, the wavy-lined emerald moth or camouflaged looper, is a species of moth of the family Geometridae. The species was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1798. It is found in most of North America.
Lymantria dispar dispar, commonly known as the gypsy moth, European gypsy moth, or North American gypsy moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae that is of Eurasian origin. It has a range that extends over Europe, Africa, and North America.
Acleris schalleriana, the viburnum button or Schaller's acleris moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1761. It is found in most of Europe. It is also found in North America. Acleris viburnana is a possible synonym that refers to the North American populations.
Malacosoma tigris, the sonoran tent caterpillar, is a species of insect in the moth family Lasiocampidae.
Patelloa pachypyga is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae. It is found in North America. It is one of the principal larval parasitoids of the tent caterpillar in Canada.
