Arachnis picta
Packard, 1864
Painted Tiger Moth
Arachnis picta is a in the Erebidae, first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864. Commonly known as the painted tiger moth, it is found in the Southwestern United States and bordering regions of Mexico. The has a wingspan of approximately 50 mm and flies during the summer months. Six have been described, showing geographic variation across its range.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Arachnis picta: //əˈræknɪs ˈpɪktə//
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Identification
The can be distinguished from similar tiger moths by its geographic restriction to the Southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. The six described (A. p. picta, A. p. insularis, A. p. maia, A. p. meadowsi, A. p. perotensis, and A. p. verna) show regional variation, with A. p. insularis restricted to California, A. p. maia to Colorado, and others showing additional geographic patterns. Subspecies identification requires examination of subtle morphological differences and knowledge of collection locality.
Images
Appearance
Medium-sized with a wingspan of approximately 50 mm. The "painted tiger moth" refers to its distinctive color pattern, though specific details of wing markings are not described in available sources.
Distribution
Southwestern United States and bordering parts of Mexico. The shows regional differentiation with occupying specific areas: A. p. insularis in California, A. p. maia in Colorado, and nominate A. p. picta and other subspecies distributed across the broader Southwestern region.
Seasonality
fly during the summer months. Specific timing within summer varies across the range due to geographic and elevational differences.
Diet
Larvae feed on herbaceous plants, specifically documented on Lupinus , radish (Raphanus sativus), and Acanthus species.
Life Cycle
Complete with , larva, pupa, and stages. Larval stage feeds on herbaceous plants before . Specific details of egg laying, pupation site, and stage are not documented in available sources.
More Details
Subspecies
Six have been described: Arachnis picta picta (nominate), A. p. insularis Clarke, 1941 (California), A. p. maia Ottolengui, 1896 (Colorado), A. p. meadowsi Comstock, 1942, A. p. perotensis Schaus, 1889, and A. p. verna Barnes & McDunnough, 1918.