tussock moth

Type of moth. Several species are major forest pests, both in Europe and in North America, for example, the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar, the nun moth L. monacha, and the browntail moth Nygmia phaeorrhoea. The caterpillars have tufts (tussocks) of long hairs.

In some species, such as the white-marked tussock moth Hemerocampa leucostigma, the females are wingless.

Classification Tussock moths are in the family Lymantriidae, order Lepidoptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda.