Bug FAQVariable Tussock Moth
Dasychira vagans · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Males have forewings 14 to 18 mm long, while females are larger at 22 to 24 mm. It lives across North America from Newfoundland to southern British Columbia, and as far south as North Carolina and Utah. Adults fly from June through August, producing one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Male forewings measure 14 to 18 mm; female forewings measure 22 to 24 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout North America, from Newfoundland to southern British Columbia, and down to North Carolina and Utah.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars eat many plant families, especially oak (Quercus) species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from June to August and there is one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults appear in the summer months, June through August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is North America, spanning from eastern Canada to the western United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 34 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Montana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Hampshire, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
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_vagans
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.