Ailanthus Webworm Moth
Scientific Name: Atteva aurea
Order & Family: Order Lepidoptera, Family Attevidae
Size: Wingspan: 1.0 to 1.2 inches (2.5 to 3.0 cm); length: approximately 0.5 to 0.75 inches.
Natural Habitat
Found in open areas, gardens, and edges of woods, especially near Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) hosts across North America and parts of Central America.
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on flower nectar from various plants; larvae feed on the leaves of Ailanthus and Simarouba trees.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are diurnal (day-flying) but are also attracted to lights at night. Larvae live socially in communal silken webs on host plants, which protects them from predators.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans. They provide ecosystem benefits as pollinators. Though larvae can defoliate host trees, they primarily target the invasive 'Tree-of-Heaven,' providing a form of natural biological control.
Identified on: 6/21/2026