The male Rusty Tussock or Vapourer moth, Orgyia antiqua, may be observed during the day flying around such shrubby habitats as woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens. The almost wingless female moth, however, is flightless so it remains by the silky cocoon which had previously enveloped her as a pupa. The female releases a scent to attract a male, and these pheromones are detected, and tracked, by a male using the hair-like sense organs on its feathery antennae. It is suggested that the name ‘Vapourer’ for this moth refers to these pheromones, the invisible ‘vapours’, emitted by the newly emerged female and which are located by the male.
The mated female lays eggs by her empty cocoon - and then dies soon after. The eggs remain dormant overwinter before hatching. The larvae emerge from the eggs the following spring when fresh foliage becomes available. These spectacular-looking, tufted larvae feed on the vegetation before finally pupating inside silky cocoons.
