Spilosoma

Spilosoma

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Spilosoma: /ˌspiː.loʊˈsoʊ.mə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Spilosoma latipennis (Pink-legged Tiger Moth) - 48040779556 by Kristof Zyskowski & Yulia Bereshpolova. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Spilosoma virginica P1400334a by 
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) Larva - Kitchener, Ontario 2018-09-22 (01) by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Spilosoma virginica 94922434 by yajapin. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Virginian Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) Larva - Kitchener, Ontario 2018-09-22 (02) by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Virginian Tiger Moth Durham NC by NCBioTeacher. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Spilosoma is a diverse genus of moths within the Erebidae family, first described by John Curtis in 1825. It includes several species that may require taxonomic re-evaluation.

Physical Characteristics

Palpi short, porrect, and fringed with hair. Antennae are bipectinate in males and serrate in females. Mid tibia with a terminal pair of minute spurs and hind tibia with two spur pairs. Forewings are long and narrow with specific vein structures. The female usually has an abdominal tuft.

Identification Tips

To identify Spilosoma, look for their bipectinate antennae in males and serrate antennae in females, along with the body shape and wing vein configurations.

Similar Taxa

Tags

  • moths
  • Erebidae
  • Spilosoma
  • Lepidoptera
  • Arctiinae