Tussock Moth Caterpillar (likely White-marked Tussock Moth)

Deciduous forests, urban landscapes, and gardens across North America.

Polyphagous; they feed on the leaves of a wide variety of woody plants including oak, birch, apple, maple, and sometimes conifers.

Larvae are active during the day. They undergo several molts before spinning a cocoon mixed with their own larval hairs to pupate. Adults are non-feeding, and females are often wingless and stay on their cocoons to lay eggs.

Risk: Their barbed hairs (setae) contain defensive chemicals that can cause skin irritation or 'tussockosis' in humans. Benefit: They serve as a food source for birds and parasitic wasps, contributing to the local food web.