Pink-striped oakworm

The Pink-striped oakworm (Anisota virginiensis) belongs to the order Lepidoptera and the family Saturniidae. It is a native North American moth species known primarily as a defoliator of hardwood trees, particularly those within the oak genus.

The primary hosts for these larvae are various oak species, including red and white oaks. While they show a strong preference for Quercus, they can occasionally be found on other hardwood hosts such as birch or hazel when their preferred food source is depleted or in cases of severe outbreaks.

The life cycle consists of a single generation per year. Adult moths emerge in the summer, and females lay clusters of eggs on the underside of host leaves. Upon hatching, the young larvae feed in groups, making them highly visible during their early developmental stages before they eventually disperse throughout the canopy.

Damage is caused by the larval stage, which consumes leaf tissue. Younger larvae skeletonize the foliage, while older instars eat the entire leaf blade, often leaving only the midribs and petioles. Extensive feeding can lead to significant defoliation, which stresses the host tree and makes it susceptible to opportunistic pathogens.

Management strategies focus on monitoring and early intervention. For smaller trees, manual removal of larval clusters is effective. In woodland or commercial nursery settings, biological control using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is recommended, as it is highly effective against young larvae while minimizing impact on non-target beneficial insects.