Tiger moths, with their striking patterns and vibrant colors, are among the most captivating insects in the Lepidoptera order. These nocturnal beauties dazzle with their diverse appearances. From the bold spots of the Garden Tiger Moth to the intricate lines of the Jersey Tiger Moth, each species showcases a unique blend of artistry and adaptation. Join us as we explore the top 21 types of tiger moths, delving into their distinctive features, habitats, and intriguing behaviors.
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Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella)
The Isabella tiger moth is a common species in North America, known for its striking appearance and remarkable ability to withstand freezing temperatures. It has yellow or tan wings with black spots and a distinctive orange coloration on the female.
The caterpillars, called banded woolly bears, overwinter as full-grown larvae and can tolerate short-term freezing periods. The species is also associated with folklore, where the width of the brown band on the caterpillar is believed to predict the severity of the upcoming winter. If you’re interested in this moth, you can read more about the Isabella moth here.
Garden tiger moth (Arctia caja)
The garden tiger moth (a.k.a the great tiger moth) is a species of moth that is found in woodlands, meadows, hedgerows, and gardens. It is a medium to large-sized moth with a wingspan ranging from 5.0 to 7.8 cm. The moth has a distinctive pattern of thick, bright white lines on its brown wings, and its hindwings are bright orange with black and blue spots.
The garden tiger moth is known for its ability to release a yellow, poisonous fluid from glands behind its head when threatened, which serves as a warning to predators that it is toxic
Virgina tiger moth (Spilosoma virginica)
The Virgin tiger moth is also referred to as the Yellow Woolly Bear or Yellow Bear caterpillar. is found throughout much of North America, including the United States and Canada. The moth has a distinctive appearance, with a body that is typically brown or gray and a pattern of white spots on its wings. The Virginia tiger moth is known for its unique behavior of mimicking the appearance of a monarch butterfly, which helps it to avoid predators.
Eyed tiger moth (Hypercompe scribonia)
The Eyed Tiger Moth, also known as giant leopard moth, a large and striking moth species. The female is approximately 1.375 inches long, while the male can reach up to 2 inches in length. The wings are white with blue-black spots, and the abdomen features striking orange and blue markings. The larvae are black and covered in black bristles with red bands between segments.
Adult moths are nocturnal and are attracted to lights at night, while the caterpillars are known to eat a variety of broadleaf plants. The species is native to North America and is found throughout the eastern United States, with multiple broods occurring from May to September.
Clouded tiger moth (Creatonotos transiens)
The clouded tiger moth is a widespread species found in Southeast Asia. It is a generalist species that inhabits various environments, including agricultural lands and urban areas. The larvae of this moth are polyphagous, which allows them to thrive in a broad ecological niche. The species is considered a pest of several agricultural and forest plants, including the dragon tree and Paulownia spp.
This tiger moth is characterized by its unique dual mating system and the presence of gigantic scent-bearing male coremata, which are pneumatically eversible organs composed of long scales and epidermal glands.
Milkweed tiger moth (Euchaetes egle)
This tiger moth type is also called the Milkweed Tussock Moth. It is identified by its mouse-gray body and wings, with a yellow collar, forecoxae, and abdomen, featuring rows of black spots. The wingspan ranges from 3.2 to 4.3 cm. The moth has a distinctive life history, with two flights from September to May, and its caterpillars feed on milkweed.
It is found in a wide range of habitats across North America, from Maine and southern Canada to Florida and west to Minnesota and Texas. The species is considered demonstrably secure globally, although it may be rare in certain parts of its range.
Pale tiger moth (Halysidota tessellaris)
The pale tiger moth, also known as the banded tussock moth or tessellated halisidota, is found in North America, ranging from southern Canada south through Texas and central Florida. The adult moths have light brown wings with bands of beige-edged in black, and a ‘hairy’ yellow body with blue-green lines on the thorax. The caterpillars are covered in long setae (hairs) and vary in color from yellowish and orange to dark gray, with extra long hair-pencils of white, black, and/or orange at the front and rear.
The caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants including alder, ash, birch, oak, and willow, but have not been reported to cause serious injury to trees. Like many related species, the pale tiger moth has chemical defenses acquired from its host plants, likely containing alkaloids that make it unpalatable to predators.
Mexican tiger moth (Apantesis proxima)
The Mexican Tiger Moth (Apantesis proxima) is a species of moth native to the western United States and Mexico. It has distinctive white wings with black geometric patterns, including blocks, dashes, and triangular shapes. The furry white thorax features three black lines, and the abdomen is bright pink with black dots.
Males have white hindwings, while females have pink hindwings with black blotches. Adults are active from spring to autumn, and caterpillars are covered in hairs, likely feeding on herbaceous plant leaves. Multiple generations can be produced each year.
Agreeable tiger moth (Spilosoma congrua)
The agreeable tiger moth is a fascinating insect species known for its distinctive white body with small black dots and a bright orange bib below the head. The larvae, or woolly bear caterpillars, are black with red or yellow patterns and are popular as insect pets due to their bristly appearance. Adult agreeable tiger moths are harmless and do not pose a significant threat to humans or plants. They are attracted to light sources and can be found in warm and humid regions of North America, India, and Southern Canada.
Anna tiger moth (Grammia anna)
The anna tiger moth is found in the eastern United States, from Maine to the mountains of North Carolina, and west to Nebraska and Arkansas. This insect has a distinctive black forewing with yellowish to cream-colored lines and a bright yellow hindwing with a black border and spot near the costa. The caterpillars feed on a variety of low plants, and the adults are active from May to July. The species is known for its striking coloration and warning signals, which advertise its toxicity to predators
Harnessed tiger moth (Apantesis phalerata)
The next species on our list is the harnessed tiger moth. It has a black abdomen with reddish sides and forewings with thick tan lines that create triangular black shapes. The hindwings feature a distinctive orange-pink coloration that only appears when the wings are spread. The moth’s caterpillars are covered in yellowish hairs and feed on various plants, including clover, plantains, corn, and dandelions.
The species is found in the southern United States and can be seen flying from early spring to late autumn, with a shorter activity period in colder northern climates.
Dogbane tiger moth (Cycnia tenera)
The dogbane tiger moth is a moth species in the family Erebidae. Compared to other types of tiger moths on this list, it is less colorful. The moths’ coloration appears to be aposematic for insectivorous birds, and they have a distinctive yellow body with black spots and white wings with a buttery yellow margin.
This insect lives in North America, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, and south to Arizona and Florida. The moth’s larvae feed on dogbane and milkweed species, which contain toxic cardiac glycosides that defend against herbivores. Adult moths emit aposematic ultrasound signals that may also disrupt bat echolocation, serving as a defense mechanism.
Jersey tiger moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria)
The jersey tiger moth is a diurnal moth species that is widely distributed across Europe. Its caterpillars are polyphagous, feeding on various plants such as nettles, raspberries, and hemp-agrimony. The adult moths have a striking appearance with bold black and white wings and a distinctive red underwing.
They are known to fly close to Eupatorium cannabinum and are often found in gardens and nature reserves. The species has increased in numbers in recent years, particularly in southern England and London, where it has established breeding colonies.
Silver spotted tiger moth (Lophocampa argentata)
This moth is active in fall and winter months. It owns striking tan/brown forewings covered in silvery spots and do not feed as adults. Its caterpillars are known for their distinctive tufts of brown, black, and yellow hairs and can reach up to 4 cm in length. The primary host for these caterpillars is Douglas-fir, although damage is cosmetic and does not cause significant harm to the tree. While the larvae can cause some defoliation, the damage is usually limited and the moths are generally not considered a significant pest.
Ruby tiger moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa)
The ruby tiger moth is a species of moth found in the Palearctic realm, with a wide distribution across Europe, North Africa, Russia, Central Asia, Tibet, and northern North America. It inhabits moist open forests, meadows, mixed hardwood forests, and agricultural areas at low elevations.
The moths are attracted to light and can be found in gardens, coastal areas, moorland, and heathland. The caterpillars are polyphagous, feeding on a variety of herbaceous plants, and the moths have a distinctive pinkish-brown coloration with black markings on their forewings and red or brown hairs on their legs.
Scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula)
The scarlet tiger moth is a colorful moth species found in Europe and the Near East. It has a wingspan of 45-55 mm and is characterized by its metallic-green forewings with white and yellow markings and red hindwings with black patches. The moths are active during the day in May and June and have a single generation. The caterpillars are polyphagous and feed on various plants, including comfrey, nettle, and bramble.
The species is known for its genetic variation, with several morphs occurring in populations, and has been the subject of extensive study in the fields of genetics and ecology.
Ornate tiger moth (Apantesis ornata)
This type of tiger moth inhabits western North America, including southern British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest, southern California, northern Utah, western Wyoming, and Montana.
It has a distinctive appearance characterized by its brightly colored wings, which feature a pattern of red, orange, green, white, and black. The moth’s body is also notable for its furry texture, similar to that of a woolly bear caterpillar. This striking appearance serves as a warning to predators that the moth is distasteful and potentially poisonous. You can read more about this moth here.
Parthenice tiger moth (Apantesis parthenice)
The parthenice tiger moth is a species of moth known for its distinctive black and pink coloration. The wings have a mosaic pattern of black panes and ivory veins, with triangles of black windowpanes bordered in tan frames. The hindwings feature a shock of bright pink when spread open, along with small black patches and a crescent-shaped black spot.
The larvae are toxic and feed on dandelion, ironweed, and thistle leaves, making them unappealing to predators. These moths are nocturnal and attracted to lights, often found in fields, parks, and forest edges. They are found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with two broods produced each year.
Vestal tiger moth (Spilosoma vestalis)
The species is found along the western coast of North America, from California to western Idaho and the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington. The adult moths have a forewing length of 19-26 mm and are active from May to June. This species has a white color with dark spots.
Australian horror moth (Creatonotos gangis)
The Australian horror moth, also known as the Baphomet moth, is a species of arctiine moth found in Southeast Asia and Australia. Adult moths have white hindwings and brown forewings with a dark streak, and a wingspan of 4 cm. The abdomen is typically red or yellow. Males have four large, grey-colored coremata behind them, which can exceed the length of the abdomen when inflated.
Their larvae are brown hairy animals with a yellow stripe along the back and feed on various crops, including groundnuts, rice, and coffee. The species is known for its ability to cause extensive damage to pomegranate trees and is considered a minor pest in some agricultural areas. You can see more facts about Creatonotos gangis here.
Cream spot tiger moth (Arctia villica)
Last but not least, the cream spot tiger moth. The insect has a distinctive appearance with black or greyish forewings featuring white and cream broad patches and spots, and bright red/orange hind wings with black spots. The thorax is black, and the abdomen is reddish-orange. The caterpillars are black with light brown tufts of hairs and can reach up to 12 mm in length.
You can find this species in Europe and parts of Africa. They are nocturnal, but females can be seen during the day, and they fly from March to July. The caterpillars feed on various herbaceous plants, including dandelion, plantains, and nettles, before overwintering and pupating in May.
