Orgyia leucostigma
The genus name Orgyia is from the ancient Greek word ὄργυια, órgyia - 'outstretched arms'. So named because, when at rest, the moth stretches forward its forelegs like arms.
The larvae are brightly colored, with tufts of hair-like setae, about 6 cm long. The head is bright red and the body has yellow and orange dots, with a black stripe along the middle of the back. Four white toothbrush-like tufts stand out from the back, and a gray-brown hair pencil is at the hind end. There’s a theory that the four white tufts mimic the external cocoons of parasitic wasps. Touching the hairs sets off an allergic reaction in many humans.
Orgyia leucostigma
The genus name Orgyia is from the ancient Greek word ὄργυια, órgyia - 'outstretched arms'. So named because, when at rest, the moth stretches forward its forelegs like arms.
The larvae are brightly colored, with tufts of hair-like setae, about 6 cm long. The head is bright red and the body has yellow and orange dots, with a black stripe along the middle of the back. Four white toothbrush-like tufts stand out from the back, and a gray-brown hair pencil is at the hind end. There’s a theory that the four white tufts mimic the external cocoons of parasitic wasps. Touching the hairs sets off an allergic reaction in many humans.