Bug FAQNorthern Pine Tussock Moth
Dasychira plagiata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The northern pine tussock moth has a wingspan of about 35 mm. Adults are active from June through August, depending on where they live. Its caterpillars feed on a variety of conifer trees such as spruce, fir, hemlock, pine and larch.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan is roughly 35 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found across North America from Newfoundland and Labrador west to Alberta, and also in Massachusetts, New York and North Carolina.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat spruce (including white, black and red spruce), balsam fir, Fraser fir, hemlock, pine and larch species.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Moths are on the wing from June to August, varying with location.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes much of Canada and the northern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 21 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Montana, Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see these moths?
Adults fly from June through August, depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on several conifers, including spruce, fir, hemlock, pine and larch.
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/Dasychira_plagiata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.