Douglas-fir Tussock Moth vs Balsam Woolly Adelgid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Douglas-fir Tussock Moth Balsam Woolly Adelgid
Scientific Name Orgyia pseudotsugata Adelges piceae
Order Lepidoptera Hemiptera
Family Erebidae Adelgidae
Size 25-35 mm wingspan (males) 0.5-1 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Omnivores Sap Feeders
Regions North America Europe, North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Douglas-fir Tussock Moth

A defoliator of Douglas-fir and true firs in western North America. Outbreaks cause severe defoliation and tree mortality in dry inland forests.

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Did You Know?

Females are flightless and lay their eggs directly on their cocoons.

Balsam Woolly Adelgid

An invasive European adelgid that kills fir trees in North America. Its feeding causes abnormal wood formation called rotholz.

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Did You Know?

It nearly eliminated Fraser fir from the highest peaks of the southern Appalachian Mountains.