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Longstreet Highroad Guide to the California Sierra Nevada

By Mark Grossi

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California Sierra Nevada > Sidebars > Douglas Fir Tussock Moth

Douglas fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsuga) The larvae of this moth feed on and defoliate many types of fir trees, including the white fir. In its caterpillar stage, the moth’s hairs cause itching and rashes for many people.

Douglas Fir Tussock Moth

More than 20,000 acres of fir trees in the Southern Sierra were defoliated in the late 1990s by the Douglas fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsuga). The larvae of this moth feed on many types of fir trees, including the white fir (Abies concolor). But that’s not the biggest problem for outdoor enthusiasts; in its caterpillar stage, the tussock’s hairs cause itching and rashes for many people. Outbreaks of tussocks can last up to three years, dying off in a viral outbreak that is harmless to people.

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Published (print): 2000, Published (Web): September 2000, Revised (Web): November 2002, ISBN: 1-56352-592-5
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