# Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth (*Anisota pellucida*) The Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth is a colorful moth with pink stripes! It loves to flutter around oak trees and is mostly active at night, making it a special nighttime friend in nature. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/19070369/medium.jpeg) Photo: Richard Stovall, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/19070369) ## Appearance The Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth has striking pink stripes on its forewings, contrasting with a yellowish to tan body and hindwings. Its wings are somewhat translucent. The robust body and relatively small head are also characteristic. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Saturniidae - **Genus:** Anisota ## Interesting facts - Adult Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moths don't even eat! They live off stored energy! - Its caterpillars are spiky and colorful, ranging from green to purplish-brown. - Their name "oakworm" comes from their caterpillars' love for oak leaves! - This moth spends a long time as a pupa, sometimes overwintering underground. ## Special abilities - **Leaf-Mimic Camouflage:** Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth has pink and yellow stripes that help them blend perfectly with oak leaves and flowers. - **Oak Leaf Muncher:** Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth caterpillars can chew through tough oak leaves because of their strong mandibles. - **Nighttime Navigator:** Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth can fly in the dark because of its specialized vision and sensory antennae. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-55 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Oakworm caterpillars munch oak leaves; surprisingly, adult moths do not eat at all! - **Age differences:** Larvae eat oak leaves, while the adult moths do not feed. - **Primary Foods:** Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus palustris, Quercus coccinea - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Its larvae feed on the leaves of this tree. - **Eats:** Red Oak (*Quercus rubra*) — Its larvae also consume leaves from red oak trees. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Larvae and pupae can be preyed upon by birds. - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Adult moths are a food source for nocturnal bats. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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 Don't touch moths or caterpillars you find outside; just watch them from a distance! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern Pink-striped Oakworm 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 Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth's wingspan? 35-55 mm ### How big is Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth? 15-25 mm ### How long does Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth live? 7-14 days ### How fast can Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth fly? 8 km/h ### What does Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth eat? Oakworm caterpillars munch oak leaves; surprisingly, adult moths do not eat at all! ### Where is Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth usually found? Forests ### How does Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Hartwell Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hartwell-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Franklin Street-College Avenue Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/franklin-street-college-avenue-residential-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Old Fessenden Academy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-fessenden-academy-historic-district) — Florida, US · Campus [View all places to see Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-pink-striped-oakworm-moth) ## 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: [Southern Pink-striped Oakworm Moth Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-pink-striped-oakworm-moth)