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 , it is found in the Southwestern United States and bordering regions of Mexico. The has a wingspan of approximately 50 mm and 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 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
-sized with a wingspan of approximately 50 mm. The "painted " refers to its distinctive color pattern, though specific details of 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
during the summer months. Specific timing within summer varies across the range due to geographic and elevational differences.
Diet
feed on herbaceous plants, specifically documented on Lupinus , radish (Raphanus sativus), and Acanthus species.
Life Cycle
with , , , 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.