Tiger-moth
Guides
Ctenucha cressonana
Cresson's ctenucha
Ctenucha cressonana, commonly known as Cresson's ctenucha, is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. The species was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1863. It is a member of the genus Ctenucha, a group of tiger moths known for their wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity. The species occurs in the Rocky Mountains of the southwestern United States. Adults have been observed laying eggs on grass blades, though the specific host plant for larval development remains unknown.
Ctenucha multifaria
White-margined Ctenucha Moth
Ctenucha multifaria is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, occurring in California and western Oregon. It is one of several species in the widespread genus Ctenucha, which are frequently encountered on flowers during late summer and fall. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits wasp-mimicking coloration with metallic blue-black body and contrasting markings. The species was described by Francis Walker in 1854.
Ctenucha rubroscapus
red-shouldered ctenucha moth, White-tipped Ctenucha
Ctenucha rubroscapus is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the red-shouldered ctenucha moth. It was described by Édouard Ménétriés in 1857. The species is restricted to low-elevation areas of western North America west of the Cascade Mountains. Adults are diurnal and visit flowers for nectar. The larvae feed on grasses and sedges in coastal and wetland habitats.
Ctenucha virginica
Virginia Ctenucha, Virginia Ctenucha Moth
Ctenucha virginica is a diurnal tiger moth in the family Erebidae, notable for its wasp-mimicking appearance. The species exhibits striking metallic blue-green body coloration with yellow-orange head and black to olive-brown wings. It is endemic to eastern North America with documented westward range expansion into the Canadian Rockies. Both larvae and adults are active feeders, with caterpillars consuming grasses, irises, and sedges while adults visit flowers for nectar.
Cycnia
Cycnia is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The genus contains several North American species, including the well-studied dogbane tiger moth (Cycnia tenera), which is known for its sophisticated anti-bat acoustic defenses. Species in this genus are typically associated with dogbane and milkweed plants, sequestering cardiac glycosides for chemical protection.
Cycnia collaris
Unexpected Cycnia Moth
Cycnia collaris is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Asa Fitch in 1857. It is distributed across the southern United States from Arizona eastward to Florida and northward to Oklahoma. Adults are active in spring and fall, with records from April and October suggesting a bimodal flight pattern possibly representing two generations per year. The species belongs to a genus whose members are known for aposematic coloration and defensive clicking behavior against bat predation.
Cycnia tenera
dogbane tiger moth, delicate cycnia
Cycnia tenera, commonly known as the dogbane tiger moth or delicate cycnia, is a North American moth in the family Erebidae. Adults display white wings with buttery yellow forewing margins and a yellow body marked with black spots. The species is chemically defended, sequestering cardiac glycosides from its larval host plants. It has been extensively studied for its sophisticated anti-predator defense: emitting ultrasonic clicks that jam bat echolocation and serve as aposematic warnings. The moth occurs across much of North America and flies both day and night.
Didasys
Didasys is a monotypic genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. The genus contains a single species, Didasys belae, commonly known as the double-tufted wasp moth. The genus was established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. The common name refers to the species' wasp-like appearance, a form of protective mimicry.
Dysschema howardi
Northern Giant Flag Moth
Dysschema howardi, known as the Northern Giant Flag Moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Edwards in 1887. The species is found in southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It belongs to a genus characterized by large, boldly patterned moths often referred to as "flag moths" due to their striking wing patterns.
Ectypia clio
Clio Tiger Moth, Clio Moth
Ectypia clio is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Packard in 1864. It occurs in lowland areas of the western and southwestern United States, where adults are active from late spring through early August. The species is notable for its larval association with milkweeds (Asclepias). Two subspecies are recognized: E. c. clio and E. c. jessica.
Ectypia mexicana
Ectypia mexicana is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae (tiger moths). First described by Paul Dognin in 1911, this species has a restricted distribution in southern North America. The species was originally described under the basionym Euverna mexicana before being transferred to the genus Ectypia.
Empyreuma
spotted oleander caterpillar moth
Empyreuma is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, containing three species. The genus name derives from the Greek ἐμπύρευμα, meaning "a live coal covered with ashes." Adults exhibit striking aposematic coloration with orange and black patterns that mimic stinging wasps. Larvae feed exclusively on oleander (Nerium oleander), a toxic plant containing cardiac glycosides that the caterpillars sequester for their own defense. The genus is notable for its acoustic courtship behavior, with males producing sounds detected by female tympanic organs.
Empyreuma pugione
Spotted Oleander Caterpillar Moth, Spotted Oleander Moth
Empyreuma pugione, the spotted oleander caterpillar moth, is a day-flying tiger moth native to the Caribbean region that was introduced to Florida in 1978. The adult moth exhibits striking orange and black aposematic coloration and wasp-like appearance, while the larvae feed on oleander (Nerium oleander) and other Apocynaceae. Both life stages sequester cardiac glycosides from their host plants, making them unpalatable to predators. The species is considered less destructive than its congener Syntomeida epilais due to solitary feeding habits and lower population densities.
Episcepsis
Episcepsis is a genus of tiger moths within the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. The genus was established by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. Species in this genus are part of the diverse tiger moth radiation in the Neotropical region.
Episcepsis inornata
Episcepsis inornata is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1856. The species is known from Central America, with confirmed records from Guatemala and Costa Rica, and has also been documented in southern Texas. The wingspan measures approximately 37 mm. The specific epithet 'inornata' (Latin for 'unadorned') suggests relatively plain coloration compared to congeners.
Estigmene
Ermine Moths
Estigmene is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1820. Species in this genus are native to North and Central America. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, with many African and Asian species formerly included now separated into different genera. The most well-known species is Estigmene acrea, commonly called the saltmarsh caterpillar or woollybear, which is a widespread generalist herbivore and occasional agricultural pest.
Estigmene acrea
Salt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
Estigmene acrea, commonly known as the salt marsh moth or acrea moth, is a native North American moth in the family Erebidae. The species is notable for its highly variable caterpillar coloration, ranging from pale yellow to dark brown or black, and its unique relationship with pyrrolizidine alkaloids—compounds it can detoxify and convert into sex pheromones. Adults display striking sexual dimorphism: males have yellow-orange hindwings while females have white hindwings, with both sexes bearing black spots. The species exhibits unusual mating behavior including male lek formation and female calling.
Estigmene albida
Estigmene albida is a moth species in the family Erebidae, described by Richard Harper Stretch in 1874. It is a medium-sized tiger moth with a wingspan of approximately 50 mm. The species occurs in western and southwestern North America, with a range extending from Montana and South Dakota south to New Mexico and Arizona, and disjunct populations in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Guatemala.
Euchromiina
Wasp Moths
Euchromiina is a subtribe of tiger moths (family Erebidae) established by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1876. The group comprises approximately 3,000 valid species when combined with the related subtribe Ctenuchina, with the majority occurring in the Neotropics. Members are renowned for their striking wasp-mimicking appearance, featuring bright aposematic coloration that advertises their chemical defenses. The subtribe was historically classified as tribe Euchromiini within subfamily Ctenuchinae of family Arctiidae before modern taxonomic revisions placed it within Erebidae.
Gnophaela latipennis
Wild Forget-me-not Moth
Gnophaela latipennis, commonly known as the Wild Forget-me-not Moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It is found in the western United States, specifically in Oregon and California. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1852. Adults are active from late spring through mid-summer, and the larvae feed on several genera of plants in the borage family, including Cynoglossum, Hackelia, Mertensia, and Myosotis.
Haematomis
Haematomis is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, tribe Lithosiini. The genus was erected by Schaus in 1899 and contains three recognized species: H. mexicana, H. radians, and H. uniformis. Members of this genus are found in the Americas, with records from Mexico and Central America.
Halysidota
tussock moths
Halysidota is a genus of arctiine tussock moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819. The genus contains approximately 40 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with records from the United States through Central and South America to the Caribbean. Several species are well-known, including Halysidota tessellaris (pale tiger moth or banded tussock moth) and Halysidota harrisii (sycamore tussock moth). The genus has been subject to ongoing taxonomic revision, with new species and subspecies described as recently as 2017.
Halysidota davisii
Davis' Tussock Moth
Halysidota davisii, commonly known as Davis' tussock moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Henry Edwards in 1874 and is named in honor of Dr. Davis. The species has a restricted distribution in the southwestern United States. Adults are active during summer months, with larvae feeding on specific host plants.
Halysidota harrisii
Sycamore Tussock Moth, Sycamore Tiger Moth
Halysidota harrisii, commonly known as the sycamore tussock moth or sycamore tiger moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It produces two generations annually and is closely associated with American sycamore trees. The species is notable for its distinctive hairy caterpillars with orange and white hair-pencils, and adults that are difficult to distinguish from the related Halysidota tessellaris.
Halysidota tessellaris
Banded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth, Tessellated Halisidota
A tiger moth species in the family Erebidae, described by James Edward Smith in 1797. Adults acquire defensive alkaloids from host plants. Caterpillars are conspicuous, with distinctive tufted setae and extra-long hair-pencils at both ends. The species is univoltine in northern parts of its range and multivoltine in the south.
Haploa
haploa moths
Haploa is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1820. The genus contains approximately six recognized species distributed in North America, including the well-known Clymene moth (H. clymene) and the confused haploa moth (H. confusa). Larvae are generally polyphagous, feeding on diverse host plants across multiple families. The genus is characterized by distinctive caterpillar coloration and adult wing patterns that facilitate identification.
Haploa clymene
Clymene Moth
Haploa clymene, the Clymene moth, is a tiger moth in the subfamily Arctiinae. Adults display distinctive creamy yellow forewings with partial brown-black borders and yellow-orange hindwings with dark spots. The species has one brood per year, with larvae overwintering and maturing in spring and early summer. It is found in eastern North America.
Haploa colona
colona moth
Haploa colona is a tiger moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Jacob Hübner in 1802. It is distributed across the southeastern and south-central United States. The species has three recognized subspecies: H. c. colona, H. c. fulvicosta, and H. c. conscita. Adult wingspan ranges from 40–58 mm.
Haploa confusa
confused haploa, Lyman's haploa
Haploa confusa is a North American tiger moth in the family Erebidae, first described by H.H. Lyman in 1887. Adults display distinctive cream-colored forewings with brown markings and nearly white hindwings. The caterpillar is strikingly patterned with black ground color, straight yellow dorsal and sub-dorsal stripes, and a broad lateral stripe. The species has been documented feeding on hound's tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and Penstemon digitalis during larval stages.
Haploa contigua
Neighbor Moth
Haploa contigua, commonly known as the neighbor moth, is a tiger moth species in the family Erebidae. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1855. The species is distributed across eastern North America, ranging from Quebec south to Georgia and westward to the Great Plains. Like other members of the genus Haploa, it is characterized by bold color patterns and belongs to the tiger moth subfamily Arctiinae.
Haploa lecontei
Leconte's Haploa Moth, Leconte's haploa
Haploa lecontei, commonly known as Leconte's Haploa Moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It occurs across eastern and central North America, from Nova Scotia south to Georgia and west to Manitoba and Arkansas. The species was first described by Guérin-Méneville in 1832. Adults have a wingspan of 36–50 mm. The larvae feed on a variety of host plants including apple, blackberry, peach, spearmint, and trembling aspen.
Haploa reversa
Reversed Haploa Moth
Haploa reversa is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Stretch in 1885. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 33 mm and fly in June with a single generation per year. The species is known from scattered localities across the central and eastern United States.
Hypercompe caudata
Hypercompe caudata is a tiger moth species in the family Erebidae, described by Francis Walker in 1855. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Central America. Like other members of the genus Hypercompe, it is part of a group commonly known as giant leopard moths due to the striking patterns of the adults and the hairy, often boldly colored caterpillars.
Hypercompe permaculata
many-spotted tiger moth
Hypercompe permaculata, commonly known as the many-spotted tiger moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. It was first described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1872. The species is native to western North America, ranging across the western United States and into parts of northern Mexico and southern Canada.
Hypercompe scribonia
Giant Leopard Moth, Great Leopard Moth, Giant Woolly Bear (larval stage), Black Woolly Bear (larval stage), Eyed Tiger Moth
Hypercompe scribonia, the giant leopard moth, is the largest eastern tiger moth in North America. Adults are striking white moths with black circular spots and bars, while larvae are known as giant woolly bears—large, densely hairy black caterpillars with red rings visible between body segments when curled. The species is nocturnal, with males frequently attracted to lights. Larvae overwinter and complete development in spring, feeding on a broad range of herbaceous and woody plants.
Hypercompe suffusa
Hypercompe suffusa is a tiger moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Schaus in 1889. It belongs to the genus Hypercompe, which includes several large, strikingly patterned tiger moths commonly known as giant leopard moths or their caterpillars as woolly bears. The species is native to North America. Specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Hyphantria
fall webworm moths
Hyphantria is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, established by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. The genus contains approximately five species, with Hyphantria cunea (fall webworm) being the most widely known due to its economic and ecological significance. Species in this genus are primarily native to North and Central America, though H. cunea has been accidentally introduced to Europe and Asia, where it has become a significant invasive pest. The genus is characterized by larvae that construct communal silk webs for feeding and protection.
Leptarctia californiae
California Tiger Moth
Leptarctia californiae, the California Tiger Moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. First described by Francis Walker in 1855, this western North American species inhabits montane environments including open forests, meadows, and clearings. It is one of few species in the genus Leptarctia, which belongs to the tiger moth tribe Arctiini.
Lophocampa caryae
Hickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Halisidota, Hickory Tiger Moth
Lophocampa caryae is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, widely distributed across eastern North America. The species has one generation per year, with adults flying in May and June. The caterpillar is covered in dense white and black hair tufts and can cause contact dermatitis in humans through its barbed setae. Despite anecdotal claims of venomous properties, no venom has been isolated; adverse reactions are characterized as irritant contact dermatitis.
Lophocampa indistincta
A tiger moth species in the family Erebidae, described in 1910. Males exhibit dark ocherous coloration with obscure wing markings and hyaline secondaries. Known exclusively from California's Channel Islands, making it a geographically restricted endemic with a wingspan of approximately 43 mm.
Lophocampa ingens
Lophocampa ingens is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Henry Edwards in 1881. It is endemic to the southern Rocky Mountains of the United States and Mexico. Adults are active in late spring, while larvae feed on several pine species. The species is distinguished by its patterned forewings with multiple rows of white spots on a dark brown background.
Lophocampa maculata
spotted tussock moth, yellow-spotted tussock moth, mottled tiger, spotted halisidota
Lophocampa maculata is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, commonly known as the spotted tussock moth despite not being a true tussock moth (family Lymantriidae). The species was first described by Harris in 1841. Adults fly from May to July with one generation per year. The caterpillar is notable for its distinctive coloration: black at both ends with a yellow or orange middle section marked with black spots in some populations. The species is found across Canada, the western United States, and southward in the Appalachians to South Carolina and Kentucky.
Lophocampa sobrina
Lophocampa sobrina is a moth species in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. It was first described by Stretch in 1872 based on specimens from California. The species belongs to a genus of tiger moths characterized by dense hair-like body setae and often striking color patterns. As a member of the Arctiini tribe, it is part of a diverse group of moths with aposematic coloration and chemical defenses.
Lycomorpha pholus
black-and-yellow lichen moth
Lycomorpha pholus, the black-and-yellow lichen moth, is a diurnal moth in the family Erebidae. It occurs across much of eastern and central North America, where adults are active from late summer through fall. The species participates in a Müllerian mimicry complex with net-winged beetles (family Lycidae), sharing their distinctive black-and-orange warning coloration. Larvae feed on lichens and are cryptically colored to match their substrate.
Macrocneme
Macrocneme is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. Species in this genus are known for their mimicry of spider wasps (Pompilidae), displaying aposematic coloration and body form that resembles hymenopteran predators. This represents a defensive adaptation where moths gain protection from predators by resembling dangerous or unpalatable wasp species. The genus was established by Hübner in 1818 and contains multiple species distributed primarily in the Americas.
Nyridela
Nyridela is a genus of moths in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, established by Lucas in 1857. The genus contains at least two described species: Nyridela chalciope and Nyridela xanthocera. These moths are classified within the tiger moth group, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the literature.
Opharus muricolor
mousey-gray tiger moth
Opharus muricolor, commonly known as the mousey-gray tiger moth, is a moth species in the family Erebidae. It was described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1898. The species occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Adults are active during the warmer months of the year.
Phaloesia
saucy beauty moth
Phaloesia is a monotypic genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, containing only the species Phaloesia saucia. The genus was described by Francis Walker in 1854. Adults are active nearly year-round and have been documented feeding on nectar from specific flowering plants. The genus occurs from southern Texas through Central America to northern South America.
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.