Charlotte's Tiger Moth
Common NameCharlotte's Tiger Moth
Scientific NameGrammia charlottae
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyArctiinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Primary Colorsblack, yellow, orange
HabitatMontane and subalpine meadows, open forests, clearings
Geographic RangeRocky Mountains of western North America (e.g., Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico)
Host Plantsvarious herbaceous plants, dandelion, plantain, clover
Flight PeriodLate June to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; larvae are hairy 'woolly bears' that feed on low-growing herbaceous plants, pupating in a cocoon before adults emerge.
Identification TipsDistinguished by the unique black and cream-yellow network pattern on the forewings, bright orange hindwings with black spots, and an orange abdomen with black stripes.
Description
This moth features striking black forewings with intricate cream-yellow stripes forming a network pattern. Its hindwings are bright orange-yellow with several prominent black spots, and its body is orange with black dorsal stripes.
