Shag Carpet Caterpillar Moth
Common NameShag Carpet Caterpillar Moth
Scientific NameOlceclostera angelica
FamilyApatelodidae
SubfamilyApatelodinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsorange, brown, white
HabitatDeciduous forests, woodlands, suburban areas
Geographic RangeEastern North America, from southern Canada to Florida and west to Texas
Host Plantsoak, maple, birch, cherry, ash, hickory
Flight PeriodMay to September (often bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe caterpillar, from which the common name derives, is densely covered in long, shaggy, often reddish-brown hairs, giving it a 'shag carpet' appearance. It pupates in a cocoon among leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the combination of a very hairy, orange-brown body, the intricate wavy brown and orange wing patterns, and the characteristic broken white line across the forewings, along with the yellowish reniform spot.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with a very shaggy, orange-brown body. Its forewings are mottled with shades of orange and brown, featuring wavy darker lines, a prominent yellowish reniform spot, and a distinctive broken white median line.
