Ailanthus webworm

Ailanthus webworm
Atteva aurea feeding on Vernonia gigantea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Attevidae
Genus: Atteva
Species:
A. aurea
Binomial name
Atteva aurea
(Fitch, 1856)
Synonyms
  • Deiopeia aurea Fitch, 1857
  • Poeciloptera compta Clemens, 1861
  • Oeta aurera Stretch, 1873 (misspelling)
  • Oeta compta var. floridana Neumoegen, 1891
  • Atteva edithella Busck, 1908
  • Atteva exquisita Busck, 1912
  • Atteva ergatica Walsingham, 1914
  • Atteva microsticta Walsingham, 1914

The Ailanthus Webworm (Atteva aurea) is an ermine moth found commonly in the United States. This small, colorful moth resembles a true bug or beetle when not in flight, but when in flight it resembles a wasp. Its original range included the American tropics since its host tree (Paradise Tree) is found in this geographic range. It has expanded its range North as it has adapted to live and feed on Ailanthus altissima.

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