Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Northern Conifer Tussock Moth (Dasychira plagiata)

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.

Description. Grayish body with compact tufts of long, dark hairs on T1, A8, and A9, with brush-like, dorsal abdominal tufts, and with other tufts on tubercles. Dark brown head; compact tuft of long, somewhat flattened, black hairs before spiracle on T1, centrally on dorsum of A8, and on supraspiracular tubercle of A9. Large gray to grayish brown tuft on A1 to A4 with intermixed white hairs, especially at margin; dull red dorsal gland on A6 and A7. Subdorsal tuft of short, plumed white hairs on T2 to T3 and on A5 to A8; additional tufts of light gray and plumed, black hairs laterally on thoracic and abdominal segments. Up to 35 mm.

Food. Balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern larch, eastern white pine, spruces, and less commonly hard pines.

Life Cycle. One generation. Partly grown caterpillar overwinters. Mature caterpillar present in May and June.

Comments. The northern conifer tussock moth and the pine tussock moth, Dasychira pinicola, overlap slightly in distribution. The pine tussock moth, which eats hard pines, occurs in the region of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Long Island, New York, and in states to the south. It completely replaces the northern conifer tussock moth in southern New Jersey.

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