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Mimosa Webworm
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Mimosa Webworm

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Galacticidae

Pest Status: Mimosa webworms are pests of locust trees, because they can damage leaves.

Appearance: The larvae are gray to dark brown, sometimes tinged with pink. A larva is 1/2 to 1-inch in length and has five white stripes that extend down the body.

Life Cycle: Adults appear in mid-summer and lay their eggs on the surfaces of foliage. The larvae hatch and begin tying foliage together with silk. Feeding continues throughout the summer until pupation occurs. New moths appear in fall. The pupae of the second generation overwinter.

Where to Collect: Adults and young are found near their host plants: mimosa and honey locust trees.