Male adult moths are greyish-brown and have bright and dark splotches on their bodies. The wingspan of the males is 25–34 mm (0.98–1.34 in).
The brown hindwing is visible when the wings are extended out. People in the northern section of its area are darker, while people in the south are lighter—plumose antennae (feathery).
Females have simple wings and are incapable of flying. 20-26 mm (0.79-1.02 in) long larvae (caterpillars) with red patches, white spines, prominent red-tipped white tufts or “tussocks,” and thick clusters of long, black hairs protruding from the front and back are multicolored.
Host plant:
The larvae feed primarily on Douglas fir, grand fir, white fir, and subalpine fir species of Pseudotsuga and Abies.
Territory:
It is found in western North America.
Damages caused by Douglas-fir Tussock Moth:
The larvae begin feeding at the branch tips at the top of the tree and work their way down, mostly consuming young leaves and seriously defoliating the tree. Douglas fir, grand fir, and white fir are the favored hosts, while it can also be an issue with spruce, pine, true fir, and larch. They are sporadic pests in the environment and prey mostly on forest trees.
Life history and Habits:
One generation of Douglas-fir tussock moths is born each year. Adult activity peaks in July and August, though it can go through November. Midday is when male moths are most active and can be spotted flying. Males are drawn to females still on the pupal case from which they emerged because they lack functioning wings, and mating takes place soon after emergence. The wingspan of adult male moths ranges from 1 to 114 inches, and they are gray-brown to dark brown with feathery antennae. Their hind wings are cinnamon-brown in hue and feature gray-brown forewings. The huge abdomen of the wingless female moths, which may also contain eggs, has tiny antennae that resemble threads. They are hair-covered, gray-brown, and about 3/4 inch long.
