Great Tiger Moth
Arctia caja
This record describes Arctia caja (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Arctia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens, water meadows, marshes, fens, sand-dunes and open woodland.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in July and August and will regularly visit the light-trap.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars are the 'woolly bears' of many people's childhood and feed on a number of herbaceous plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Once a quite common moth in most of Britain, it seems to have declined in many places in the last few years. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Arctia caja. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Great Tiger Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Great Tiger Moth
How big is Great Tiger Moth?
50mm to 70mm (1.96" to 2.75")
Where is Great Tiger Moth found?
Habitat: Gardens, water meadows, marshes, fens, sand-dunes and open woodland.
When is Great Tiger Moth active?
Great Tiger Moth: seasonal activity - It flies in July and August and will regularly visit the light-trap..
What is the life cycle of a Great Tiger Moth?
The caterpillars are the 'woolly bears' of many people's childhood and feed on a number of herbaceous plants.