Arctic Woolly Bear Moth vs Loblolly Pine Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Woolly Bear Moth Loblolly Pine Sawfly
Scientific Name Gynaephora groenlandica Neodiprion taedae linearis
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Erebidae Diprionidae
Size 30-40 mm wingspan 6-9 mm
Habitat Heathland Farmland
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island Southeastern United States
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Woolly Bear Moth

A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.

💡

Did You Know?

The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.

Loblolly Pine Sawfly

A pine sawfly from the southeastern United States whose yellowish-green larvae feed on the needles of loblolly and other southern pines.

💡

Did You Know?

Young larvae feed only on the outer needle tissue, leaving the central vein intact, giving infested needles a characteristic straw-like appearance.