tussock moth

tussock moth

n. Any of various usually dull-colored moths of the family Lymantriidae, the caterpillars of which have tufts of hair along the back and are often destructive to deciduous trees.

tussock moth

n (Animals) any of various pale or dull-coloured moths of the family Lymantriidae (or Laparidae), the hairy caterpillars of which are pests of many trees. See also gipsy moth, browntail moth, goldtail moth [C19: so named because of the tufts of hair on the caterpillars]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

tussock moth - dull-colored moth whose larvae have tufts of hair on the body and feed on the leaves of many deciduous treeslymantriidmoth - typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennaefamily Lymantriidae, Lymantriidae - tussock mothsgipsy moth, gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar - European moth introduced into North America; a serious pest of shade treesbrowntail, brown-tail moth, Euproctis phaeorrhoea - small brown and white European moth introduced into eastern United States; pest of various shade and fruit treesEuproctis chrysorrhoea, gold-tail moth - white furry-bodied European moth with a yellow tail tuft