Bug FAQSanta Ana Tussock Moth
Lophocampa annulosa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The Santa Ana tussock moth lives in the southwestern United States, parts of Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Its caterpillars have been recorded feeding on the plant Aegiphila falcata.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on Aegiphila falcata.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 1 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas.
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 does the Santa Ana tussock moth eat?
The caterpillars feed on the plant Aegiphila falcata.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the Santa Ana tussock moth found?
It occurs in the southwestern US (southern Texas and Arizona) and across parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean.
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 acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lophocampa_annulosa
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.