DISTRIBUTION:

The single brooded Anisota stigma moth (wingspan: males: 36-48mm; females: 52-75mm) flies in the eastern half of the United States at latitudes from southern New Hampshire and Massachussettes to central Florida. It is also reported from extreme southern Ontario, along the northern shore of Lake Erie.

Anisota stigma male, Fillmore, Bossier Parish, Louisiana,
July 18, 2012, courtesy of Jeff Trahan

Both males and females tend to have considerable dark speckling on the wings. The males do not have hyaline areas on the forewings.

Both males and females respond to lights.

Anisota stigma male, Talladega County, Alabama,
July 31, 1993, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

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.

Vernon A. Brou has collecting records of twenty years indicating 98% of flight in Louisiana from May through September occurs during months of July and August.

Stigma larvae feed upon oaks.

Anisota stigma female, Florida,
courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

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 ovipositing flights.

Males lack the hyaline area on the forewings. The forewing hyaline area is present in males in many of the other Anisota species.

Anisota stigma pair, Cumming (Forsyth County), Georgia, July 6, 2008, courtesy of Mary Zager.

EGGS, LARVAE 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.

Anisota stigma fourth instar, Florida,
courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Larval Food Plants

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 pumila Castanea vulgaris Corylus Quercus alba Quercus falcata Quercus marilandica Quercus michauxii Quercus nigra Quercus palustris Quercus pubescens Quercus rubra Quercus velutina Quercus virginiana

Chinese chestnut Chestnut American chestnut Hazel White oak Southern Red Oak Blackjack Oak Swamp chestnut oak Water oak Pin oak Oak Northern red oak Black oak Live oak

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