Variable oakleaf caterpillar moth
Lochmaeus manteo
This moth from eastern North America belongs to the prominent moth family. It is named after its caterpillar, which loves oak leaves and comes in different looks. The grown-up moths fly from spring to autumn.
Lives in
Eastern North America, in leafy forests
Wingspan
3.7 to 5 cm (1.5 to 2 in)
Can it hurt you?
Harmless
Harmless to people. It is a quiet moth of the forest.
What does it eat?
Its caterpillars eat the leaves of many leafy trees, especially oaks.
How big is it?
How wide are its wings?
🧱wings as wide as 1.5 toy building bricks⚽could fly across a whole football pitch in 24 seconds
How big is Variable oakleaf caterpillar moth compared to YOU?
Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
How fast is it?
A kid running fast about 13 km/h (8.1 mph)
Variable oakleaf caterpillar moth about 16 km/h (9.9 mph)
A grown-up on a bike about 25 km/h (16 mph)
A car driving in town about 50 km/h (31 mph)
cool stuff
Fun facts
1
The grown-ups can be seen flying from April to October.
2
Its wings are about 4 to 5 centimetres across.
3
Its caterpillar does not look the same every time, which is why it is called variable.
you asked
Most asked questions about Variable oakleaf caterpillar moth
?What does the variable oakleaf caterpillar eat?
The leaves of leafy trees, especially oaks.
?When does the variable oakleaf caterpillar moth fly?
From April to October.
For bug experts
- Scientific name
- Lochmaeus manteo
- Group
- Moths
- Family
- Notodontidae
- Classification
- Insecta > Lepidoptera > Notodontidae
- Lives on
- North America
Where the facts come from
- Lochmaeus manteo (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
- Picture by Mike Boone. CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons. The sticker of this bug is drawn from this picture.
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