Spiny Oakworm Moth vs Arctic Woolly Bear Caterpillar Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spiny Oakworm Moth Arctic Woolly Bear Caterpillar Moth
Scientific Name Anisota stigma Gynaephora rossii
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Saturniidae Erebidae
Size 45-65 mm 28-38 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Heathland
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions Eastern North America Canadian Arctic, Alaska, northern Siberia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Spiny Oakworm Moth

A medium-sized saturniid with rich orange-brown wings bearing a small white discal spot. Males are darker and smaller than females, with more feathery antennae.

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Did You Know?

The spiny oakworm caterpillar is covered in sharp branching spines that can cause a mild irritation to the skin when handled carelessly.

Arctic Woolly Bear Caterpillar Moth

A close relative of the Greenland woolly bear, this moth has pale gray wings and a densely furred body. The caterpillar is covered in long dark hairs and freezes solid each winter. Adults have reduced mouthparts.

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Did You Know?

This moth's caterpillar is parasitized at very high rates by ichneumon wasps, which may extend its already decade-long development even further.