The Rosy Maple Moth, Dryocampa rubicunda, is a beautiful medium-sized moth endemic to North America.
Their range extends from Florida west to Michigan, Indiana, Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska, to southern Canada – Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Mostly, they inhabit deciduous forests in the eastern parts of the continent.
The moth’s name derives from their preference for feeding upon Maple trees. They appear to be most particularly fond of the Silver Maple, Red Maple, and the Sugar Maple.
They are also popular for their wooly body and striking color patterns which are also exceedingly variable.
The adults are principally nocturnal, mainly solitary (except during mating), and prefer to fly in the first few hours of darkness.
Rosy Maple Moth Physical Characteristics
The species exhibits sexual dimorphism characteristics. Females are slightly larger than males and may attain a bigger wingspan of as much as 2 in (5 cm).
The legs and antennae of the Dryocampa rubicunda are mostly reddish pink. Their bodies and hindwings are usually bright yellow, and their forewings – bright pink, with a yellow band across the middle portion. However, white and cream patterns can occur as well.
The species can see ultraviolet rays and do have organs to process sounds.
Further, adult individuals do not feed. Their larvae eat just the leaves and mostly stay on the underside of the maple tree leaves.
The Dryocampa rubicunda have an average lifespan of 2 to 9 months in the wild if overwinter pupation occurs. In captivity, they live unfortunately only up to about 5 months, mostly because there is no overwintering in the pupal stage.
Finally, scientists know little about such factors as the purpose of their coloration or their mating behaviors.
Check out our articles on Sunset Moth, Giant Atlas Moth, Southern Flannel Moth, Cecropia Moth, Plume Moth, Turnip Moth, Plume Moth, Black With Moth
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