Anisota virginiensis discolor
Ferguson, 1971

Anisota virginiensis discolor male, Kirby Wolfe, copyright protected.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Ceratocampinae, Harris 1841 Genus: Anisota, Hübner, 1820 ("1816") Species: virginiensis discolor, Ferguson, 1971

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DISTRIBUTION:

Many regard Anisota virginiensis discolor as a colour (brownish) variation of virginiensis or pellucida rather than as a subspecies. The Pink-striped oakworm moth (discolor) (wing span: 1 5/8 - 2 5/8 inches (4.2 - 6.6 cm)) flies in deciduous woodland, suburbs, and tree-lined city streets from southeastern Texas through Louisiana.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are several broods throughout the year in Texas and Louisiana.

Oakworm larvae feed on various oaks (Quercus species).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Anisota virginiensis discolor adults males are day fliers and mate in the morning.

Females are larger than males and the upperside of female is orange with pale purple at the margins of the wings. Scattered black specks are reduced or absent.

The upperside of the male is dark brown with some red on the hindwing and a large translucent (hyaline) area on the forewing. Both sexes have a small white cell spot on the forewing.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Females lay orangey-brown eggs after dusk in groups on the underside of oak leaves.

Oily looking first instar larvae feed in groups, stripping foliage except for leaf vein skeletons.

Gregarious feeding continues into final instar at which time larvae leave foliage and pupate and overwinter in shallow underground burrows.

Anisota virginiensis discolor larva, Kirby Wolfe, copyright protected.

Pupae are very rough and have an elongated forked cremaster. Sharp projections along side of pupae are similar to those of Dryocampa rubicunda.

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.

Quercus falcata Quercus macrocarpa Quercus marilandica..... Quercus nigra Quercus palustris Quercus pubescens Quercus stellata Quercus velutina

Southern red oak Bur oak Blackjack oak Water oak Pin oak Oak Post oak Black oak

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