Arctiinae
Guides
Phaloesia saucia
Saucy Beauty, Saucy Beauty Moth
Phaloesia saucia, commonly known as the Saucy Beauty, is a moth in the family Erebidae found from the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas through tropical regions to Venezuela. This species belongs to the tiger moth lineage within the Arctiinae subfamily. The common name references the species epithet 'saucia,' meaning 'wounded' or 'hurt' in Latin, though the origin of 'Saucy Beauty' as a vernacular name is not documented in available sources.
Phoenicoprocta lydia
Lydia tiger moth
A tiger moth in the subfamily Arctiinae, described by Herbert Druce in 1889. The species occurs in Mexico and southern Texas, with adult flight records limited to October. The genus Phoenicoprocta belongs to the diverse tiger moth group within Erebidae, though specific ecological details for this species remain sparse.
Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Ruby Tiger, Ruby Tiger Moth
Phragmatobia fuliginosa, the Ruby Tiger, is a moth in the subfamily Arctiinae of family Erebidae. It has a wingspan of 35–45 mm and is distinguished by dark reddish-brown forewings with a blackish comma-shaped spot and bright carmine to rose-red hindwings. The species is widely distributed across the Palearctic and into northern North America, with multiple recognized subspecies including the North American P. f. rubricosa. It exhibits geographic variation in generation time: univoltine in northern regions with adults flying in June, and bivoltine in southern Britain with adults appearing April–June and again August–September.
Phragmatobia lineata
Lined Ruby Tiger Moth
Phragmatobia lineata, commonly known as the lined ruby tiger moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Newman and Donahue in 1966. The species is associated with prairie habitats and has a relatively restricted distribution in North America. Adults are active in spring, with a flight period from early to late May. The species is part of the diverse tiger moth group, which includes many species with bright warning coloration.
Pseudocharis
lesser wasp moth (for P. minima)
Pseudocharis is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Euchromiina. It was erected by Herbert Druce in 1884. The genus contains approximately nine described species distributed primarily in the Neotropics, with at least one species (P. minima) occurring in North America. Species in this genus exhibit wasp-mimicking coloration, a characteristic trait of the Euchromiina.
Pseudohemihyalea ambigua
red-banded aemilia
Pseudohemihyalea ambigua, commonly known as the red-banded aemilia, is a moth species in the family Erebidae (subfamily Arctiinae). It occurs from southern Wyoming southward through the Rocky Mountain and southwestern United States to Durango, Mexico. Adults are active from June to August, with forewing lengths of approximately 22 mm in males and 24 mm in females. The larvae feed on Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine).
Pseudohemihyalea edwardsii
Edwards' Glassy-wing Moth, Edwards' glassy-wing
Pseudohemihyalea edwardsii is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864. The species is named in honor of actor-entomologist Henry Edwards. It occurs in oak woodlands and mixed hardwood forests at low elevations across the western United States, from Oregon and Washington south through California and east to western New Mexico. The forewings measure 27–31 mm in length. The species serves as a known host for the tachinid fly Paradejeania rutilioides.
Pseudosphex
Pseudosphex is a genus of tiger moths (subfamily Arctiinae, family Erebidae) established by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The genus comprises species that exhibit exceptional mimicry of stinging Hymenoptera, particularly wasps. These moths display near-perfect morphological and behavioral convergence with their models, including wasp-waisted bodies, yellow-black coloration, transparent wings held folded at rest, and wasp-like antennae. Recent research proposes that this precise mimicry may serve not only to deter vertebrate predators but also to avoid predation by the wasps themselves, which may fail to recognize the moths as prey due to innate conspecific recognition mechanisms.
Pseudosphex leovazquezae
Pseudosphex leovazquezae is a moth in the subfamily Arctiinae (tiger moths) described by Pérez and Sánchez in 1986. The species is known from southern Texas, Mexico, and Guatemala. Adults are active from September to November in Texas. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits wasp mimicry, displaying yellow-black patterning and transparent wings that closely resemble stinging wasps.
Psilopleura
Psilopleura is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. The genus was established in 1898 and contains approximately 13 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Species within this genus exhibit the characteristic warning coloration typical of tiger moths. The genus has been documented through 335 iNaturalist observations, indicating moderate field recognition.
Psilopleura polia
Psilopleura polia is a moth species in the subfamily Arctiinae, first described by Herbert Druce in 1898. The species has a notably disjunct distribution, occurring from southern Texas through Central America and extending to Vanuatu in the southwestern Pacific. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 38 mm. Limited phenological data indicates adult activity in November in Texas, though broader seasonal patterns across its range remain undocumented.
Ptychoglene
Ptychoglene is a genus of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Lithosiini, within the family Erebidae. The genus was erected by Felder in 1874 and contains eight described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Members of this genus are characterized by their often striking red or reddish coloration, reflected in species epithets such as 'coccinea' (scarlet), 'erythrophora' (red-bearing), and 'sanguineola' (blood-red). The genus is part of the diverse tiger moth assemblage, though specific biological details for most species remain poorly documented.
Ptychoglene phrada
Ptychoglene phrada is a moth species in the subfamily Arctiinae (tiger moths), described by Herbert Druce in 1889. It is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico. The genus Ptychoglene belongs to the tribe Lithosiini, a group of lichen moths characterized by relatively plain coloration and nocturnal habits.
Purius
Purius is a genus of arctiine tussock moths in the family Erebidae, established by Francis Walker in 1855. The genus contains two described species: Purius pilumnia (originally described by Stoll in 1780) and Purius superpulverea (described by Dyar in 1925). As members of the subfamily Arctiinae, these moths possess the characteristic features of tiger moths and tussock moths, though specific details of their biology remain poorly documented in available literature.
Purius superpulverea
Purius superpulverea is a moth species in the family Erebidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1925. It occurs in Mexico and southern Texas. Adults are active during March, October, and November. The species was originally described under the basionym Spodarctia superpulverea.
Pygarctia abdominalis
Yellow-edged Pygarctia, Orange-bodied Pygarctia, Yellow-edged Tussock Moth
Pygarctia abdominalis is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1871. It is found in the southeastern and south-central United States. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with females notably larger than males. Adults are active primarily during spring and summer months.
Pygarctia neomexicana
Pygarctia neomexicana is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by William Barnes in 1904. The species occurs in the southwestern United States, with adult flight activity recorded from April through September.
Pygarctia pterygostigma
Pygarctia pterygostigma is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1909. It occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with a wingspan of approximately 28 mm. Adults are active during summer months. As a member of the genus Pygarctia, it belongs to a group known for acoustic aposematism—emitting sound signals to warn bat predators of chemical defenses.
Pygoctenucha
Pygoctenucha is a genus of arctiine tussock moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. The genus contains five described species distributed in North and Central America. Members are classified within the tribe Lithosiini, a group of lichen moths characterized by their relatively slender bodies and often subdued coloration. The genus has been documented through limited observations, with most records concentrated in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Pygoctenucha pyrrhoura
Pygoctenucha pyrrhoura is a moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1881. It belongs to the subfamily Arctiinae (tiger moths) and tribe Lithosiini. The species is known from a restricted distribution in the south-central United States.
Pyrrharctia
woolly bear moth
Pyrrharctia is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, described by Packard in 1864. The genus contains two described species found in North and Central America. The best-known species, Pyrrharctia isabella, produces the familiar banded woolly bear caterpillar, widely recognized for its black and orange banded appearance and cultural association with winter weather prediction. The genus is notable for the freeze-tolerance adaptations of its larvae, which overwinter as caterpillars using cryoprotectant compounds to survive subfreezing temperatures.
Seirarctia echo
Echo Moth
Seirarctia echo, the Echo Moth, is a monotypic tiger moth species in the family Erebidae. It is endemic to the southeastern United States, where it inhabits thickets, scrublands, and open areas. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797 based on specimens from Georgia.
Sonorarctia
Sonorarctia is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, established by Ferguson in 1985. The genus contains two described species: S. fervida (Walker, 1855) and S. nundar (Dyar, 1907). Both species were originally described under other genera and later transferred to Sonorarctia. The genus is part of the Arctiinae subfamily, a diverse group of moths commonly known as tiger moths.
Spilosoma
tiger moths, ermine moths
Spilosoma is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, established by John Curtis in 1825. The genus is taxonomically heterogeneous and widely acknowledged to require systematic revision, with many species likely needing reclassification into separate genera. Members are commonly known as tiger moths or ermine moths, with larvae often called 'woolly bears' due to their dense, colorful setae. The genus has a global distribution with particular diversity in tropical and temperate regions. Several species are significant agricultural pests, notably Spilosoma obliqua (Bihar hairy caterpillar) in South Asia, which causes severe defoliation of jute, legumes, and other crops.
Spilosoma latipennis
Pink-legged Tiger Moth, Red-legged Diacrisia
Spilosoma latipennis, commonly known as the pink-legged tiger moth or red-legged diacrisia, is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae described by Richard Harper Stretch in 1872. It occurs across eastern North America from Georgia north to Maine and west to Iowa and Kansas. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 38 mm and are active from April through September. The larvae feed on a variety of plants including ash, dandelion, impatiens, and plantain.
Syntomeida ipomoeae
Yellow-banded Wasp Moth, Orange-banded Wasp Moth
Syntomeida ipomoeae is a wasp-mimicking moth in the subfamily Arctiinae, described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839. The species exhibits aposematic coloration and is known for its diurnal activity pattern, unusual among moths. Its common names derive from the distinctive yellow or orange banding on the body. The species has a restricted distribution in the southeastern United States.
Trocodima
Trocodima is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, established by Watson in 1980. The genus belongs to the arctiine tussock moth group and contains three described species: T. fuscipes, T. hemiceras, and T. lenistriata. These species were originally described between 1883 and 1931. The genus is relatively small and understudied, with limited published information on its biology.
Trocodima fuscipes
Trocodima fuscipes is a small moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883. The species is known only from the US state of Arizona. Adults have a wingspan of 18–22 mm and have been recorded flying in April and July. It is a poorly documented species with limited available information on its biology.
Virbia aurantiaca
orange holomelina, Orange Virbia Moth
Virbia aurantiaca is a small moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the orange holomelina or Orange Virbia Moth. It is recognized by its bright orange coloration and relatively small size, with forewings measuring approximately 10 mm in males and 9.7 mm in females. The species has a broad distribution across North America, ranging from southern Canada through the eastern and central United States to Mexico. Larvae have been successfully reared on dandelion (Taraxacum) and plantain (Plantago) species.
Virbia fergusoni
Virbia fergusoni is a tiger moth described in 2008 by Jennifer M. Zaspel. It is one of 14 recognized Virbia species north of Mexico, distinguished by adult morphology and genitalia characteristics. The species appears to have multiple generations annually with flight activity concentrated in spring and summer.
Virbia ferruginosa
rusty holomelina, Rusty Virbia Moth
Virbia ferruginosa, commonly known as the rusty holomelina or rusty virbia moth, is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1854. The species has a broad distribution across northern North America, with one generation per year and adults active in July.
Virbia fragilis
Virbia fragilis is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by Strecker in 1878 from specimens collected in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The species occupies a restricted but disjunct distribution across the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains regions of western North America, with populations documented from South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Alberta, and British Columbia. It is associated with open field habitats.
Virbia immaculata
Plain-winged Virbia Moth, Immaculate Holomelina, Plain-winged Holomelina
Virbia immaculata is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. The species was described by Tryon Reakirt in 1864. It is found across eastern and central North America, from the Atlantic coast west to Manitoba, with additional records from Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Larvae have been successfully reared on dandelion (Taraxacum) and plantain (Plantago) species.
Virbia laeta
joyful holomelina, Joyful Virbia Moth
Virbia laeta, commonly known as the joyful holomelina or Joyful Virbia Moth, is a small moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1844. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in forewing length and shows considerable variation in adult flight period across its North American range.
Virbia marginata
Virbia marginata is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by Herbert Druce in 1885. The species is considered a synonym of Virbia rubicundaria in some taxonomic treatments, though this status appears unresolved across sources. Records indicate presence in parts of North America and Central America.