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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Erebidae 930166 – 8314   Orgyia definita Packard, 1864              Definite Tussock Moth

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Betulaceae Cannabaceae[Ulmaceae] Cornaceae Ericaceae Fagaceae Hamamelidaceae Juglandaceae Malvaceae[..  Host genera: Acer Betula Carya Celtis Cephalanthus Cornus Fraxinus Hamamelis Ostrya Populus Prunus Quercus Salix ...  Host extended: polyphagous on trees & shrubs (Wagner et al 1997); other woody plants (Wagner 2005).  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: definita Packard, 1864 (Orgyia) - MONA 1983: 8314

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Ferguson, D. C., 1978. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 22.2: p. 77; pl. 8.1-9. order or free PDF Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history) Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at Mass Moths Species Page at iNaturalist

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