Ailanthus Webworm Moth Atteva aurea Fitch, 1856Adventive    Synonyms: Atteva punctella, Hodges #2401.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Yponomeutidae   >   Genus Atteva   

Status:

This is a tropical species that appears to have spread with the introduction from China of Tree of Heaven, which has become an invasive species. The Ailanthus Webworm Moth is now common in the eastern U.S.

Description:

Adults are distinctive and easily recognizable.

Relationships:

The Ailanthus Webworm Moth was formerly a tropical specialist of paradise trees (Simarouba spp.), one of which is native to Florida. The larval host plant of Ailanthus Webworm Moth in our area is primarily Tree of Heaven, a plant whose invasiveness appears to have enabled a massive range expansion for the moth — so much so that a native North American moth now has a common name based on an invasive plant!

There are 1,190 records in the project database.

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An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/20/2014). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/12/2013). Photo by Benjamin DeHaven. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/15/2017). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/2/2016). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth on White Sweetclover in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/30/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/15/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/17/2016). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/10/2014). Photo by Bill Adams. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/30/2016). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/7/2014). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/26/2017). Photo by Richard Crook. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Washington Co., Maryland (9/28/2018). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (6/30/2013). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/5/2020). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/25/2022). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/10/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/26/2020). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/8/2020). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/12/2020). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (8/9/2022). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Kent Co., Maryland (8/7/2021). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A mating pair of Ailanthus Webworm Moths in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/18/2015). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7//2002). Photo by Larry Line. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm in Charles Co., Maryland (8/6/2009). Photo by Eric Gofreed. (MBP list)

Ailanthus Webworm Moth caterpillars in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/28/2017). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/18/2007). Photo by Stephen Schueman. (MBP list)

Ailanthus Webworms in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/29/2006). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth larva in Baltimore City, Maryland (8/18/2016). Determined by John and Jane Balaban/BugGuide. Photo by Derek Hudgins. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth pupa in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/3/2012). Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth caterpillar in Harford Co., Maryland (8/23/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth larva in Charles Co., Maryland (8/24/2022). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm pupa in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/25/2006). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm pupa in Charles Co., Maryland (8/6/2009). Photo by Eric Gofreed. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm pupal case in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/18/2007). Photo by Stephen Schueman. (MBP list)

Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Charles Co., Maryland (9/9/2023). (c) Deborah Barber, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Deborah Barber via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Ailanthus Webworm Moth collected in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/23/2001). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Ailanthus Webworm Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/30/2023). (c) Jane Hartman, all rights reserved. Photo by Jane Hartman. (MBP list)


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