Pale Tussock Moth (Calliteara pudibunda)

OTHER NAMES: Hop Dog
Latin Etymology: Calliteara (?) pudibunda ("bashful")

Adult Pale Tussock Moth (Calliteara pudibunda) at Geddington, Northants, UK - May 2026

Featured Subspecies: ?

Weight: ?  /  Length: ? /  Wingspan: 40-60mm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A widespread and common species that mostly feeds on various common tree species such as beech, oak, willow and birch. It has a gigantic range of much of Eurasia being found from Europe to Siberia to Vietnam.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Calliteara
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident 

 - Seen in Geddington  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle)

OTHER NAMES: Milkweed Tiger Moth
Latin Etymology: Euchaetes ("well bristled") egle (?)

Juvenile Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle) at St Charles, Illinois, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 3.2cm  /  Wingspan: 35-43mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A fairly subdued moth with a rather flamboyant caterpillar form - as caterpillars, they feed on toxic chemicals such as milkweeds to make the adult forms toxic to predators such as bats. Milkweeds produce chemicals to deter predators but these moths have learned to first skeletonise the leaves then, when large enough, sever the vessels that bring the noxious substance.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Euchaetes
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES -  Widely distributed species in the lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Campton, Illinois  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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