Known for its distinctive silver spots and vibrant patterns, the silver-spotted tiger moth plays a vital role in various ecosystems. In this article, join us to step into the fascinating world of this insect, exploring its lifecycle, habitat, and the remarkable characteristics that set it apart from other moth species.
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Genus: Lophocampa
Silver-spotted tiger moth characteristic
The silver-spotted tiger moth is a type of tiger moth species. It has a stout body with a wingspan of up to 5 cm. Its tan/brown forewings are covered in silvery spots, while the hindwings are entirely white with a brown spot at the end of each wing.
Its larvae are small, about 37 mm (1.5 inches) in length. They have a dark body covered with yellowish-orange and black bristles. They are known for their distinctive tufts of hair, including black hairs on the first and second abdominal segments, yellow hairs on the subdorsal clusters, and rust-colored hairs on the lateral clusters.
Habitat
These insects are primarily found in western North America, with a range that includes British Columbia, Canada, and parts of the United States such as Wyoming, California, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and possibly northern Mexico.
These species are found in forests and woodlands, where it can be seen in areas with coniferous trees such as Douglas fir, spruce, true fir, and pines.
Diet
Silver-spotted tiger moth caterpillars mainly consume the needles of coniferous trees, particularly Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), but also occasionally on other conifer species like spruce, true fir, and pine. They are known to feed in clusters, forming loose webbing on branches, and later disperse to feed individually. Adult moths do not eat.
Life cycle
The silver-spotted tiger moth has a well-defined annual life cycle. Adult moths emerge and mate in mid-summer (July-August), with females laying up to 450 eggs in clusters on needles and small branches of coniferous trees. The eggs hatch within about three weeks, in late summer.
The small, brown, hairy caterpillars emerge and feed gregariously inside a loose silk web during the fall. They overwinter in these webs, feeding sporadically throughout the winter. In early spring (March-April), larval feeding increases as the weather warms up. By mid-spring, the larvae leave the webs and feed solitarily for 2-3 weeks before pupating in cocoons in late spring (May-June).
The adult moths then emerge in mid-summer to start the cycle again. The moths fly and mate, laying eggs, and then die shortly after. Silver-spotted tiger moths spend less than 10% of their lives as adults. While the adult moths only live for a short period of time, the full life cycle of these moths from egg to adult takes approximately one year to complete.
