# Fall Cankerworm Moth (*Alsophila pometaria*) The Fall Cankerworm Moth is a small moth that comes out in the fall. It has soft wings and is often seen fluttering around trees, especially apple trees! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Fall Cankerworm Moth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Alsophila_pometaria_1510033.jpg&width=800) Photo: USDA Forest Service - Region 8 Archive, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alsophila_pometaria_1510033.jpg) ## Appearance The Fall Cankerworm Moth's male has mottled, brownish-gray forewings and lighter hindwings, sometimes with a darker band. Females are distinctively wingless, with a small, spider-like gray body, often resembling a tiny knot on a tree branch. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Geometridae - **Genus:** Alsophila ## Interesting facts - Mass outbreaks of caterpillars can completely strip forests bare of leaves! - Only male Fall Cankerworm Moths have wings and can fly! - Their caterpillars are called 'inchworms' because of their unique looping walk. - Wingless females crawl up trees to lay their eggs in the canopy! ## Special abilities - **Silk Spinner:** Fall Cankerworm Moth caterpillars can drop from trees on a silk thread to escape predators or move to new leaves. - **Branch Mimicry:** Their caterpillars can vary in color from green to brown, allowing them to perfectly blend in with twigs and leaves. - **Wingless Climber:** Female Fall Cankerworm Moths are unique because they have no wings, which helps them conserve energy to crawl up trees. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-35 mm - **Size:** 7-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-21 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding As caterpillars, they munch on tree leaves; adults don't need to eat! - **Age differences:** Caterpillars are voracious leaf-eaters, while adult moths do not feed. - **Primary Foods:** Oak leaves, Elm leaves, Maple leaves, Apple leaves, Cherry leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves during spring. - **Eats:** [Sugar Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sugar-maple) (*Acer saccharum*) — Caterpillars are known to defoliate its leaves. - **Eaten by:** [Black-capped Chickadee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-capped-chickadee) (*Parus atricapillus*) — Birds prey on both cankerworm caterpillars and adult moths. - **Parasitizes:** Cankerworm Egg Parasitoid (*Telenomus alsophilae*) — Tiny wasps lay eggs inside cankerworm moth eggs. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch these moths from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Fall Cankerworm Moth? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Fall Cankerworm Moth's wingspan? 25-35 mm ### How big is Fall Cankerworm Moth? 7-15 mm ### How long does Fall Cankerworm Moth live? 7-21 days ### How fast can Fall Cankerworm Moth fly? 5 km/h ### What does Fall Cankerworm Moth eat? As caterpillars, they munch on tree leaves; adults don't need to eat! ### Where is Fall Cankerworm Moth usually found? Forests ### How does Fall Cankerworm Moth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Long Point Wildlife Refuge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-point-wildlife-refuge) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Fall Cankerworm Moth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fall-cankerworm-moth)