Mexican Tiger Moth
Common NameMexican Tiger Moth
Scientific NameArctia caja
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyArctiinae
Wingspan (mm)75
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorscream, black, orange
HabitatWoodlands, gardens, hedgerows, open country, meadows
Geographic RangeHolarctic (Europe, Asia, North America)
Host Plantsplantain, dandelion, nettle, willow, birch, various herbaceous plants and shrubs
Flight PeriodJune to August
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae, known as 'woolly bears' due to their dense, bristly hair, are polyphagous. They typically overwinter as larvae and pupate in the spring.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive cream and black spotted forewings, the bright orange abdomen with black bands, and the bipectinate antennae. Hindwings, though often hidden at rest, are typically orange with black spots.
Description
A large, robust moth characterized by cream-colored forewings heavily marked with irregular black spots. The thorax is orange-yellow with a thick black central stripe, and the abdomen is bright orange with distinct black bands.
