Identifying the Insect. It has a bright red head with a yellowish body, a pair of upright pencil tufts of black hairs on the prothorax, and four white to yellowish brushlike tufts of hairs on the back toward the head. The adult male moth is gray brown, with darker wavy bands and a white spot. The female is wingless and whitish gray. Identifying the Injury.
Young larvae chew small holes in leaves.
Older larvae feed on leaf edges, consuming entire leaves, except for larger veins and midribs. Entire trees may be defoliated. Eggs are laid in small, white masses and hatch in the early spring. Robert L. Anderson Larvae feed until they pupate in May or June. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, and adults emerge in about 2 weeks.