Oslar'S Oakworm Moth
ExploreInsects
Oslar'S Oakworm Moth
anisota oslari
Oslar's Oakworm Moth is a captivating member of the wild silk moth family, native to the rugged oak woodlands of the southwestern United States and Mexico. As caterpillars, they are voracious consumers of oak foliage, sporting striking patterns that serve to deter predators. Upon reaching adulthood, these moths undergo a dramatic transformation, emerging as beautifully colored moths with vestigial mouthparts, meaning their sole focus during their brief adult lives is reproduction.
Habitat: Typically found in arid oak woodlands, canyons, and foothill scrublands where their primary oak host plants are abundant.
Appearance
Adults exhibit a warm palette of yellow-orange to reddish-brown coloration, with females being significantly larger and more robust than the males. The forewings feature a distinctive, small white discal spot near the center and are often flecked with fine dark purplish-brown speckles, while a thin, dark line runs diagonally across the wing. Males possess feathery antennae used to detect female pheromones and are typically darker and more active during daylight hours.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilySaturniidaeGenusAnisota
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Adult Oslar's Oakworm Moths live for only about a week, as they lack functional digestive systems and cannot eat.
Males of this species are day-fliers, which is unusual for Saturniid moths, and they fly with a rapid, zig-zagging pattern to find females.
The caterpillars of this species are gregarious in their early stages, feeding in large, synchronized groups on oak leaves.
Special abilities
Ability
Pheromone Communication
Females release powerful chemical attractants that males can detect from miles away using their specialized feathered antennae.
Ability
Adult Fasting
Adults possess no functioning mouthparts and do not feed, relying entirely on energy reserves stored during their larval stage.
Ability
Aposematic Larval Display
The caterpillars feature sharp spikes and bright warning colors to deter birds and other insect-eating predators.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 2-4 cm
- Wingspan
- 4-9 cm
- Weight
- 0.001-0.003 kg
- Lifespan
- 0-1 years
- Top Speed
- 15 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 80-150
- Incubation
- 10-14 days
Diet & Feeding
Caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of oak trees, while adult moths do not feed at all due to vestigial mouthparts.
Age differences: Larvae feed continuously on oak foliage, while adults do not consume any food and live only a few days to reproduce.
Primary Foods
- Arizona White Oak leaves
- Emory Oak leaves
- Silverleaf Oak leaves
Foraging Method
- Grazing
Ecological connections
host plant
Arizona White Oak
Quercus arizonica
The primary food plant for the caterpillars of Anisota oslari.
eaten by
Mexican Jay
Aphelocoma wollweberi
Predator of the larval and adult stages in southwestern oak forests.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Collections for this object will appear here as more themes are added.
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Oslar'S Oakworm Moth?
The easiest way to identify Oslar'S Oakworm Moth is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Oslar'S Oakworm Moth?
2-4 cm
What is Oslar'S Oakworm Moth's wingspan?
4-9 cm
How much does Oslar'S Oakworm Moth weigh?
0.001-0.003 kg
How long does Oslar'S Oakworm Moth live?
0-1 years
How fast can Oslar'S Oakworm Moth move?
15 km/h
What does Oslar'S Oakworm Moth eat?
Caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of oak trees, while adult moths do not feed at all due to vestigial mouthparts.
Where is Oslar'S Oakworm Moth usually found?
Typically found in arid oak woodlands, canyons, and foothill scrublands where their primary oak host plants are abundant.
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
_(7736461008).jpg&width=800)
.jpg&width=800)
_Tipula_paludosa_on_Iris_leave.jpg&width=800)
