Lophocampa ingens

Distinguished from other Lophocampa species by the six distinct rows of white spots on dark brown forewings, with the fifth row consisting of eight lunate submarginal spots decreasing in size toward the costa. The combination of pale hindwings with limited dark spotting and the specific pattern of forewing maculation separates it from congeners in the southern Rocky Mountain region.

Montane coniferous forests dominated by ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and piñon pine. Occurs at elevations typical of these pine species in the southern Rocky Mountains.

Southern Rocky Mountains of the United States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah) and Mexico.

Adults fly in May and June.

Larvae feed on Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine), Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine), and Pinus edulis (piñon pine). Adult diet not documented.

• Pinus ponderosa - larval food plantponderosa pine
• Pinus contorta - larval food plantlodgepole pine
• Pinus edulis - larval food plantpiñon pine

Complete metamorphosis with egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Larvae are present on host pines; specific timing of other stages not documented.

Adults are nocturnal or crepuscular. Larvae feed externally on pine foliage.

Herbivore in montane pine ecosystems; larvae consume pine needles.

Minor potential as a defoliator of pine species; no significant economic impact documented.

• Other Lophocampa speciesSimilar general appearance as tiger moths with spotted forewings, but distinguished by specific pattern of six rows of white spots and geographic restriction to southern Rocky Mountains.

• moth
• tiger moth
• pine feeder
• montane
• Rocky Mountains
• defoliator

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Chrysididae | Beetles In The Bush