DISTRIBUTION:

Dryocampa rubicunda "alba", the lighter form of the Rosy Maple Moth (wingspan: males: 32-44mm; females: 40-50mm), flies in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska and into Ontario, Canada.

This form is devoid of pink scales on wings. The bodies however have the typical rubicunda markings on the ventral surface of the abdomen.

Tuskes, Tuttle and Collins note the genitalia are indistinguishable from nominate rubicunda, but the final instar larvae lack the red patch along the side at the rear of the abdomen. This may be a form of nominate rubicunda or a distinct subspecies. I have seen both here on PEI, and there is great variability with regard to amount of pink scaling on the yellow form.

There all white form is not a distinct species. Tim Dyson sends this image of a pair, post copula, from Peterborough, Ontario. The male, almost pure white, is form alba.

Dryocampa rubicunda, post copula, Havelock/Cordova Mines, Peterborough, Ontario,
courtesy of Tim Dyson.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS: Dryocampa rubicunda alba begin flying in May-June and again in August. Maples, particularly red and silver and sugar, are the prefered host plants for rubicunda alba. Image courtesy of Tim Dyson, Peterborough, Ontario, June 2-3, 2005.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males and the slightly larger females eclose from 4:00 to 8:00 pm and mating occurs from 10:00-12:00 the same evening.

Both sexes come to lights, but males seem to be much more prevalent. Captured females will oviposit in paper bags.

Dryocampa rubicunda alba, Peterborough, Ontario, courtesy of Tim Dyson.

Dryocampa rubicunda alba (verso), Peterborough, Ontario, courtesy of Tim Dyson.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Pale yellow eggs are laid inclusters of 20-30 on undersides of hostplant foliage. Incubation can last up to two weeks.

Larvae are gregarious through first three of five instars, but in the final two instars they become solitary. With mature larvae attaining lengths of 55 mm, much damage can be done to maple trees during an extremely favorable year for rubicunda.

Small heads and strong mandibles often allow this larva to escape through sleeves.

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.

Acer monspessulanum Acer negundo Acer pseudoplatanus....... Acer rubrum Acer saccharinum Acer saccharum Acer spicatum Fagus grandifolia Juglans cinera Quercus coccinea Quercus ilicifolia Quercus laevis Quercus nigra Quercus velutina

Montpelier maple Box elder/Manitoba maple Sycamore maple Red maple Silver maple Sugar maple Moose Maple American beech Butternut Scarlet oak Bear oak Turkey oak Water Oak Black oak

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

The species name "rubicunda" comes from the Latin, meaning red. The subspecies name "alba" indicates the "all white" form of this moth.

The genus name "Dryocampa" probably comes from the Greek "dryo" meaning tree and "campa" meaning camp. This may allude to the large numbers (camp) that sometimes defoliate tress.

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