Definite Tussock Moth

Definite Tussock Moth

Orgyia definita

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Washington

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

10 Verified sightings at Washington
72 In all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Definite Tussock Moth

Orgyia definita, the definite tussock moth or definite-marked tussock moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1865. The species is found in eastern North America from Minnesota to New Brunswick and south to South Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

The wingspan is about 30 mm for males; females are wingless. The larvae feed on Salix, Quercus, Tilia, Ulmus, Betula, Acer rubrum, and Hamamelis virginiana. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Montreal 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
2 Toronto 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
3 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Definite Tussock Moth in Washington?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Definite Tussock Moth sighting in Washington on a given day, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 1188th most-seen of the 1807 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Definite Tussock Moth in Washington?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Definite Tussock Moth in Washington on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

What time of day is best to see a Definite Tussock Moth?

Between noon and 3 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Definite Tussock Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Washington the best place to see a Definite Tussock Moth?

Among the best

Of the 3 cities where we can rate Definite Tussock Moth sightings, Washington ranks 3rd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Montreal (Canada, under 5%) and Toronto (Canada, under 5%).

Where does the Definite Tussock Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Definite Tussock Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Washington (10 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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