Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Spotted Tussock Moth

Lophocampa maculata

Photo by shebebusynow
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

44.504, -124.022

Field Notes

Description:

This banded wooly bear had long white hairs coming out of front and rear black bands.

Habitat:

Coastal temperate rain forest at about 500' elevation; Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, alder forest.

Notes:

This is the caterpillar for the yellow-spotted tiger moth a.k.a. spotted tussock moth.

Reference Links:

Butterflies and Moths of North America | collecting and sharing data about Lepi…

Species ID Suggestions

Spotted Tussock Moth

Lophocampa maculata

Reference Link
ForestDragon
1

Comments (10)
shebebusynow
We get a lot of banded wooly bears here, too (Pyrrharctia isabella/Isabella tiger moth) and they are just like this spotting (Lophocampa maculata/Spotted tussock moth) except that this has the white hairs. Same size, same length of bristles.
KarenSaxton
The wooly bears here are rarely as long as that, so I'm guessing her's are the same.
KarenSaxton
I'll upload one of the ones I didn't upload the first time http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7359355 the only real difference is the leaf is in mine.
Ashish
Size is very different in both species. Wooly bear is about 3 inches long. This one might be little larger than 1 inch..!!
shebebusynow
It's an old marble composite (?) garden table top. Pretty funky, but handy.
KarenSaxton
What is it sitting on? I took one like that with a nearly identical background, but didn't post it. It is uncanny
shebebusynow
You're right; that's the same species. Thanks for the lead. I've retained calling it a wooly bear, though, because it seems that's a broad term for a lot of different caterpillars that are similar only because they have a lot of close-tufted hair.
Ashish
Check... http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7359355
Ashish
This is not wooly bear... Last week its already appeared...

Tags

Photographed
PublishedSeptember 26, 2011

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies