Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth vs Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth | Southern Oak Bush-Cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Malacosoma disstria | Meconema meridionale |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Lasiocampidae | Tettigoniidae |
| Size | 25–35 mm wingspan | 11-15 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America | Southern and Western Europe (expanding northward) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth
A widespread North American moth whose caterpillars defoliate vast areas of hardwood forest. Despite the name, they form silken mats rather than true tents.
Did You Know?
Outbreaks can defoliate millions of hectares of forest, though healthy trees usually recover with new leaves.
Southern Oak Bush-Cricket
A small, wingless relative of the oak bush-cricket that has rapidly spread northward across Europe, likely aided by accidental transport in vehicles. It is fully arboreal and flightless.
Did You Know?
Being flightless, it likely spread across Europe by hitchhiking on cars and trucks parked under infested trees.