Bug FAQYellow-striped Oakworm Moth
Anisota peigleri · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Saturniidae
Also called: Peigler's Oakworm Moth, Yellowstriped Oakworm
The yellow-striped oakworm moth has a wingspan of about 4.3 to 6.9 cm and lives in the southeastern United States. Its caterpillars feed on oak leaves, especially swamp oak, and the adults do not feed at all.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It was described as a separate species in 1975 and was formerly confused with Anisota senatoria.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 43 mm to 69 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found from southeastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia through the Appalachian region down to north-central Florida.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars mainly eat leaves of various oak species, including swamp oak (Quercus palustris). Adult moths do not feed.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Fully grown caterpillars pupate and spend the winter in shallow underground chambers. Adults emerge and fly from mid-July to late August, producing one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from mid-July to late August. They are active during daylight hours.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Native to the United States in the same states listed for its habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It looks similar to Anisota senatoria, which it was once identified as.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 9 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: endemic in North America; endemic in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see the adult moths?
Adults are active from mid-July through late August and are seen during the day.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on the leaves of several oak species, especially swamp oak.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell it apart from similar moths?
It was once confused with Anisota senatoria but was described as a distinct species in 1975.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Saturniidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisota_peigleri
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.