Bug Identifier
Rosy Maple Moth
Community identification

Rosy Maple Moth

Dryocampa rubicunda

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Saturniidae
Size
32–55 mm (wingspan)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Deciduous forests, dominated by maple and oak trees, often found across Eastern North America.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae (Green-striped mapleworms) eat maple and sometimes oak leaves; adults do not eat as they lack functional mouthparts.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal; adults emerge in the late afternoon and mate at night. Females lay eggs in clusters on the underside of host leaves.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans; larvae can occasionally cause minor defoliation of trees but rarely permanent damage. They serve as a food source for birds and bats.