Tiger-moth
Guides
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 flavidorsalis
Pygarctia flavidorsalis is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. It is characterized by white wings and thorax contrasting with orange head, abdomen, and femora. The species is known from the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Pygarctia lorula
Pygarctia lorula is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1914. It is known only from New Mexico, with adults active in July. The wingspan ranges from 32–43 mm. As a member of the genus Pygarctia, it likely shares the acoustic aposematism behavior documented in congeners, producing warning sounds to deter bat predators.
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.
Pygarctia spraguei
Sprague's pygarctia, Sprague's tiger moth
Pygarctia spraguei is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. It occurs across the Great Plains of North America, from southern Canada to Texas. The species has a wingspan of approximately 31 mm. Larvae are known to feed on Euphorbia species.
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.
Pyrrharctia isabella
Isabella tiger moth, banded woolly bear, woolly bear, woolly worm
Pyrrharctia isabella is a tiger moth species native to North America, best known for its larval form, the banded woolly bear caterpillar. The caterpillar is recognized by its alternating black and orange-brown bands and has become famous in North American folklore as a supposed predictor of winter weather severity. The species exhibits remarkable freeze tolerance, allowing larvae to survive winter temperatures by producing cryoprotectants that prevent lethal ice crystal formation. Adults are dull yellowish to orangish moths with sparse black wing spotting and bright reddish-orange forelegs.
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 congrua
Agreeable Tiger Moth
Spilosoma congrua, commonly known as the agreeable tiger moth, is a white tiger moth species native to North America. Adults are distinguished from similar species by their pronounced black eyes, white abdomen, and orange "bib" or collar. The species tents its wings when at rest, a characteristic shared with its congener the Virginia tiger moth. It is one of three common white tiger moth species in the United States.
Spilosoma dubia
Dubious Tiger Moth
Spilosoma dubia, the dubious tiger moth, is a North American tiger moth described by Francis Walker in 1855. It inhabits aspen parkland and southern boreal forests across southeastern Canada and the eastern United States. Adults are active in late spring, with larvae feeding on specific host plants.
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.
Spilosoma vagans
Wandering Tiger Moth, Wandering Diacrisia
Spilosoma vagans is a tiger moth in the family Erebidae, described by Boisduval in 1852. It occurs in western North America from southern California north to southern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta. Adults fly from late April through early August in dry forest habitats. The larvae feed on herbaceous plants.
Spilosoma vestalis
Vestal tiger-moth, Vestal Tiger Moth
Spilosoma vestalis, the Vestal tiger-moth, is a species of tiger moth in the family Erebidae. Described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864, it occurs along the Pacific coast of western North America. Adults are active from May to June, with forewing lengths of 19–26 mm. The larvae feed on various woody and herbaceous plants.
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 opella
tawny holomelina, Tawny Virbia Moth
Virbia opella is a small tiger moth in the family Erebidae, historically known as the tawny holomelina. It was described by Grote in 1863 and later transferred from Holomelina to Virbia following phylogenetic revision. The species occurs in eastern and central North America, where it inhabits oak-dominated forests and produces multiple generations annually.