Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175
Apantesis virguncula
This record describes Apantesis virguncula (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
forewing black with thick and thin yellowish to cream-colored lines; only 1 transverse line on forewing, which extends as a zigzag from costa near apex hindwing yellow with extensive black shading in both sexes look for yellow line on underside of abdomen [description by Charles Covell] It's reported that speciosa is the slightly smaller species, but I'm not certain how reliable that is. One other thing is that although both species tend to peak through July, it seems that virguncula is more abundant in June (at least in southern Canada & northern US parts of its range) ... but again, I don't know how reliable that is. --… J.D. Roberts, 25 June, 2008
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Apantesis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to North Carolina in the mountains, west to South Dakota, north to Alberta and Yukon Territory
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from June to August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on dandelion, knotweed, plantain, and other low plants
Life History
female with eggs; larva; pupa; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apantesis virguncula. 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 Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , anitagould , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175
What is Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175?
Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175 (Apantesis virguncula) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175?
wingspan 35-46 mm
How do you identify Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175?
forewing black with thick and thin yellowish to cream-colored lines; only 1 transverse line on forewing, which extends as a zigzag from costa near apex hindwing yellow with extensive black shading in both sexes look for yellow line on underside of abdomen [description by Charles Covell] It's reported that speciosa is the slightly smaller species, but I'm not certain how reliable that is. One other thing is that although both species tend to peak through July, it seems that virguncula is more abundant in June (at least in southern Canada & northern US parts of its range) ... but again, I don't know how reliable that is. --… J.D. Roberts, 25 June, 2008
Where is Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175 found?
Range: Newfoundland to North Carolina in the mountains, west to South Dakota, north to Alberta and Yukon Territory
What does Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175 eat?
The diet of the Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175 includes larvae feed on dandelion, knotweed, plantain, and other low plants.
When is Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175 active?
Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175: seasonal activity - adults fly from June to August.
What is the life cycle of a Little Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8175?
female with eggs; larva; pupa; adult