DISTRIBUTON:

The Spiny oakworm moth,Anisota stigma (wingspan 42-75 mm, females larger than males), flies in the eastern half of the United States at latitudes from Massachussettes to central Florida.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Anisota stigma adults fly in June in the north, July in the middle latitudes, July-August in the Southeast and in August-September in Texas.

Stigma larvae feed upon oaks.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in mid morning from 6:30-9:30 and then again, if unmated, from 1:00-3:00 pm, and the pair usually remain coupled until early evening when the females begin their ovapositing flights.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are yellowish-orange. Oakworm larvae are gregarious but divide into smaller clusters as they progress. In the final instar they are solitary feeders and leave the host to pupute in shallow chambers. Photo by Leroy Simon. Pupation is under the soil.

Larvae do well in sleeves or on cut food.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Castanea mollissima..... Castanea vulgaris Corylus Quercus alba Quercus michauxii Quercus nigra Quercus palustris Quercus pubescens Quercus rubra Quercus velutina Quercus virginiana

Chinese chestnut American chestnut Hazel White oak Swamp chestnut oak Water oak Pin oak Oak Northern red oak Black oak Live oak

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SATURNIIDAE OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
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