Anisota peigleri
Encyclopedia
The Yellowstriped Oakworm (Anisota peigleri) is a moth
of the Saturniidae
family. It is found from south-eastern Kentucky
, south-western Virginia
, eastern Tennessee
and western North Carolina
south through western South Carolina
and central Georgia
into north-central Florida
.
It is a recently described species (Riotte 1975) and is similar to and was previously identified as Anisota senatoria
(J. E. Smith).
The wingspan
is 43-69 mm. Adults are on wing from mid July to late August in one generation. Adults are on wing during the day. Mating takes place from midmorning until midafternoon.
The larva
e mainly feed on various Oak
species, including Quercus palustris. They feed in tight groups throughout their development. Fully grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in shallow underground chambers. Adults do not feed.
It is an occasional pest on oak trees in the south-eastern United States. In Florida, outbreak populations defoliated laurel, water and Shumard oaks in Gainesville from 1996 until 2001. Even when defoliation is not severe, the falling frass (droppings) and large numbers of caterpillars are a major concern for many homeowners. Frass commonly stains driveways, walkways, pool decks and other outdoor structures.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Saturniidae
Saturniidae
The Saturniidae, commonly known as saturniids, are among the largest and most spectacular of the moths. They form a family of Lepidoptera, with an estimated 1,300 to 1,500 described species worldwide...
family. It is found from south-eastern Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, south-western Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, eastern Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and western North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
south through western South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and central Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
into north-central Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
It is a recently described species (Riotte 1975) and is similar to and was previously identified as Anisota senatoria
Anisota senatoria
The Orangestriped oakworm is a Nearctic member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. It is one of the more common Saturniids, reaching pest status occasionally in the northern parts of its range...
(J. E. Smith).
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 43-69 mm. Adults are on wing from mid July to late August in one generation. Adults are on wing during the day. Mating takes place from midmorning until midafternoon.
The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e mainly feed on various Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
species, including Quercus palustris. They feed in tight groups throughout their development. Fully grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in shallow underground chambers. Adults do not feed.
It is an occasional pest on oak trees in the south-eastern United States. In Florida, outbreak populations defoliated laurel, water and Shumard oaks in Gainesville from 1996 until 2001. Even when defoliation is not severe, the falling frass (droppings) and large numbers of caterpillars are a major concern for many homeowners. Frass commonly stains driveways, walkways, pool decks and other outdoor structures.