Dryocampa rubicunda

Adult male (side) — Washington County (Suzanna Hendrix)

Adult female — Harrison County (Devan Pennington)

Adult female (side) — Monroe County (Brian Lowry)

The feathery bipectinate antennae of a male — Washington County (Bonnie Laux)

Bright yellow abdoment — Washington County (Ronda Byers)

Maple samaras show the camoflauge of an adult — Scott County (Brian Lowry)

Caterpillar — Scott County (Brian Lowry)

An Indiana Native

Dryocampa rubicunda — Rosy Maple Moth

(Fabricius, 1773)

Hodges# 7715

Etymology

Dryocampa: Combines the Greek dryo for “oak tree” and campa for “caterpillar,” to mean “oak caterpillar.”

Rubicunda: Latin for “ruddy or red.”

Pronunciation

Drye-oh-kamp-uh roo-bee-kuhn-duh

Adult Size and Description

Wingspan: 32–55 mm (1.3–2.2 in)
Coloration and Patterning:

Both sets of wings pale, creamy-yellow to bright yellow
Upper sides of forewings with pale to bright pink basal areas and from postmedial lines to outer margins
Upper sides of hindwings sometimes with pink postmedial lines.

Sexual Dimorphism:

Females larger than males
Antennae bipectinate on males and filiform on females

Defense Mechanisms:

Crypsis — resembles samaras of red maple (Acer rubrum)

Range

This map illustrates documented North American records of Dryocampa rubicunda as of 13 February 2021.

Documented record(s)

Conservation Status — NatureServe Rankings

Secure 5: Secure NR: Not ranked

Floral Associates

Although polyphagous, as their vernacular name implies, Dryocampa rubicunda caterpillars are closely associated with the maple trees (Acer spp.), where they occasionally become pests. Adults lack a digestive system, do not eat, and exist solely for reproduction.

Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Order: Fagales
Fagaceae	Quercus spp.	oaks
Juglandaceae	Juglans spp.	black walnut and butternut
Order: Rosales
Moraceae	Morus spp.	mulberries
Order: Sapindales
Aceraceae	Acer spp.	maples

Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) in Indiana

The map, graph(s), and data below represent the Indiana sightings of Dryocampa rubicunda as of 21 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: 22 of 92

Top counties/#of records:
Brown: 48
Monroe: 28
Scott: 17
Owen: 12
Washington: 11
Jefferson: 7
Harrison: 6

species present icon GAIN LP documented in county

Sightings by Month

Earliest live adult: Amanda Staggs, Greene County on 29 April 2017
Latest live adult observation: Paul Nelson, Brown County on 15 November 2016

Total Sightings by Year

Total Number of observations (all years combined): 142
Number of field observers: 54

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).