Summary ²

Lophocampa caryae, the hickory tussock moth or hickory halisidota, is a moth in the family Erebidae, widely distributed in the eastern half of North America. Like most species in its family, the caterpillars acquire chemical defenses from their host plants, so they are potentially toxic or unpalatable, but this species is also venomous. The behaviour and aposematic coloration of the larvae suggests chemical protection in this stage, although they have not been analyzed

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Cyndy Sims Parr, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/20462444@N00/4671974519
2. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lophocampa_caryae

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• Moths of North Carolina
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths

iNat Map