Ailanthus webworm
The Ailanthus Webworm 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 is found in this geographic range. It has expanded its range North as it has adapted to live and feed on Ailanthus altissima.
Identification
Ailanthus Webworm Moth adults have several notable characteristics. Their forewings are bright orange with white spots surrounded in black. On their heads they have labial palps that curve upward and front facing antennae.Host plants
The ailanthus webworm is hypothesized to be native to South Florida and the American tropics, which contains their original larval host plants: Paradise Tree and Simarouba amara. Although these two trees were the Webworms original host plants, it has since expanded its range to include another host plant Ailanthus altissima.The Tree-of-Heaven, originally from China, has expanded across the United States, and is widely considered an invasive species. Tree-of-Heaven is the host plant of several invasive species such as the Spotted Lanternfly and A. aurea is thought to have adapted to feed on and breed in it as well. This hypothesis comes from the fact that A. altissima is in the same family of its original host plant. This resulted in the expansion further North in the United States. This expansion of its range to nest in A. altissima is what resulted in its common name the Ailanthus Webworm Moth.