The ornate tiger moth stands out with its dazzling beauty found in the natural world. With its striking patterns and vivid colors, this moth catches everyone’s eye. In this article, we delve into the fascinating world of this moth, exploring its unique features, lifecycle, and the role it plays in its habitat. Let’s join with us!
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Genus: Apantesis
Ornate tiger moth characteristics
The ornate tiger moth or the achai moth is one of the most colorful tiger moth types. It has a wingspan of approximately 3-4 cm. Its wings have a black, red, and tan patterned appearance. The forewings are typically black with a net-like pattern of extensive yellowish or rosy off-white transverse lines and thinner pale veins.
The hindwings are variable in color, ranging from yellow-orange, orange, to orange-red, and are heavily marked with black, including the basal wing, multiple spots, and an irregular marginal band.
The body of this species is covered in long black hairs dorsally and laterally, but has red hairs ventrally, and has a yellow-orange middorsal line. The antennae have an interesting toothed pattern.
The species has different variations in different places. The moths from southwestern Oregon are a little bit larger and more brightly colored than those from other populations and have reduced pale scaling on the veins.
Its caterpillar is generally dark brown or black, with a distinctive pattern of white or yellowish stripes running along its body.
Habitat
The ornate tiger moth is usually found in western North America. You can see these insects in southern British Columbia and eastern Washington to western Montana. It is also common throughout Oregon and has limited records in southern Idaho, confined to the southeastern corner of the state. Outside of the Pacific Northwest, it is found in all but the most southern parts of California, Nevada, and Utah.
The moths live in coastal grasslands adjacent to the ocean, coastal rainforests, low elevation grasslands west of the Cascades, oak woodlands, mixed hardwood-conifer forests in the mountains, ponderosa pine forests at middle elevations east of the Cascades, and high mountain meadows in both the Cascades and Rocky Mountain regions.
The moths are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Diet
The larvae of this species mostly feed on plants, like the mustard, sunflower, honeysuckle, and pea families. The adult moths do not eat.
Life cycle
The ornate tiger moth is single-brooded, meaning it has one generation per year. The adult moths emerge in late spring and early summer. They find mates and the females lay yellow or white eggs on the leaves or stems of host plants.
The eggs hatch into caterpillars (larvae), which are covered in long black hairs dorsally and laterally, with red hairs ventrally, and have a yellow-orange middorsal line. They feed on various plants for several months, enter the pupa stage, and undergo metamorphosis into the adult moth form. The pupae are usually found in soil, under debris, or in protected areas.
The adult moths emerge from the pupae and begin their adult life cycle. They are medium-sized and active during late spring and early summer. The lifespan of the ornate tiger moths lasts only a few weeks. During this time, they mate and lay eggs to start the next generation.
Source feature pic: iNaturalist
