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ECOLOGY ▪ EDUCATION ▪ ADVOCACY

Adult male —  Brown County (Michele Pollock)
Adult female — Newton County (Rick Welton)
Male and female mating — Newton County (Rick Welton)
Male antennae—& Monroe County (Tracey Steze)
Female antennae — Newton County (Rick Welton)
Side view of an adult — Newton County (Jeanette Jaskula)
Caterpillar — Clay County (Rick Malad)
Caterpillar feeding — Jefferson County (Stefan Johnson)
American Flag Flag of Indiana An Indiana Native

Anisota stigma — Spiny Oakworm Moth

(J.E. Smith [&Abbot], 1797)

stigma Species Anisota Genus Ceratocampinae Subfamily Family Saturniidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia
stigma Species Anisota Genus Ceratocampinae Subfamily Family Saturniidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia

Hodges# 7716

Etymology

Anisota: “Anisos” in Latin means unequal, and the term “ota” was a Greek word for ear.

stigma: Greek for “spot.”

Pronunciation

an-eye-soh-tuh stig-muh

Adult male —  Brown County (Michele Pollock)
Adult female — Newton County (Rick Welton)
Male and female mating — Newton County (Rick Welton)
Male antennae—& Monroe County (Tracey Steze)
Female antennae — Newton County (Rick Welton)
Side view of an adult — Newton County (Jeanette Jaskula)
Caterpillar — Clay County (Rick Malad)
Caterpillar feeding — Jefferson County (Stefan Johnson)

Adult Size and Description

Range

This map illustrates documented North American records of Anisota stigma as of 30 January 2021.

species present icon Documented record(s)

Conservation Status — NatureServe Rankings

ConservationBaseMap Indiana Status National Status Global Status NR 5 5

secure 5: Secure not ranked NR: Not ranked

Floral Associates

Anisota stigma caterpillars primarily specialize on the foliage of oak (Quercus spp.) trees. Technically polyphagous, researchers have also documented them feeding on several additional plant families, but oaks are their primary host. Adults lack a digestive system, do not eat, and exist solely for reproduction.


Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family Taxonomic Name Common Name
Order: Fagales
BetulaceaeCorylus americanaAmerican hazelnut
FagaceaeCastanea dentataAmerican chestnut
Quercus spp.oaks
JuglandaceaeCarya spp.hickories
Order: Malvales
TiliaceaeTilia americanaAmerican basswood

Spiny Oakworm Moth (Anisota stigma) in Indiana

The map, graph(s), and data below represent the Indiana sightings of Anisota stigma as of 13 November 2024, confirmed through photographic evidence by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

Occurrences by County

Counties recorded: 11 of 92

Top counties/#of records:
Newton: 19
Brown: 18
Scott: 8
Monroe: 7
Owen: 5
Washington: 5
Jefferson: 3

species present icon GAIN LP documented in county

Sightings by Month

Total Sightings by Year

Sightings by Gender

Image Gallery

The images and records below were all submitted by individuals through the Great American Indiana Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).