Phyllodesma americana
Encyclopedia
The American Lappet Moth (Phyllodesma americana) is a moth
of the Lasiocampidae
family. It is found from Nova Scotia
to Georgia
, west through Texas
to California
, north to British Columbia
and Yukon
.
The wingspan
is 29-49 mm. Adults are on wing from March to September in two generations in the south. In eastern Ontario, adults are on wing from May to July. The flight season in Ohio is from April to August. There is one generation per year in the northern part of the range.
The larvae feed on the leaves of Alnus, Betula, Quercus, Populus, Salix, Ceanothus velutinus
, Chrysolepis chrysophylla and Rosoideae
species.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Lasiocampidae
Lasiocampidae
The Lasiocampidae family of moths are also known as eggars, snout moths or lappet moths. There are over 2000 species worldwide, and probably not all have been named or studied....
family. It is found from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, west through Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, north to British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 29-49 mm. Adults are on wing from March to September in two generations in the south. In eastern Ontario, adults are on wing from May to July. The flight season in Ohio is from April to August. There is one generation per year in the northern part of the range.
The larvae feed on the leaves of Alnus, Betula, Quercus, Populus, Salix, Ceanothus velutinus
Ceanothus velutinus
Ceanothus velutinus, with the common names Snowbrush Ceanothus, Red Root, and Tobacco Brush, is a species of shrub in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae...
, Chrysolepis chrysophylla and Rosoideae
Rosoideae
The rose subfamily Rosoideae consists of more than 850 species, including many shrubs, perennial herbs, and fruit plants such as strawberries and brambles...
species.
Subspecies
- Phyllodesma americana rockiesensis
- Phyllodesma americana borealis
- Phyllodesma americana alascensis
- Phyllodesma americana californica
- Phyllodesma americana dyari
- Phyllodesma americana celsivolans