Bug FAQDavis' Tussock Moth
Halysidota davisii · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Davis' tussock moth belongs to the family Erebidae. The caterpillars eat the leaves of Emory oak and various hackberry species. Adult moths are active during the summer months of July and August.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Halysidota davisii, known as Davis' tussock moth, is a member of the Erebidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on Emory oak (Quercus emoryi) and on species of hackberry (Celtis).
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from July through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 3 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Arizona, Texas, New Mexico.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on the leaves of Emory oak and hackberry trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Erebidae)
Spongy MothLymantria disparDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cuneaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown-tail MothEuproctis chrysorrhoeaCan irritate skin
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabella
Virginian Tiger MothSpilosoma virginicaCan irritate skin
Salt Marsh MothEstigmene acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halysidota_davisii
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.