Opulent Tiger Moth - Hodges#8166.1
Arctia opulenta
This record describes Arctia opulenta (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Day-flying moth.
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
Alpine and arctic tundra.
Geographic Range
BC north to AK.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Salix (Willow)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Arctia opulenta. 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 Opulent Tiger Moth - Hodges#8166.1 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by James Bailey , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Opulent Tiger Moth - Hodges#8166.1
How do you identify Opulent Tiger Moth - Hodges#8166.1?
Day-flying moth.
Where is Opulent Tiger Moth - Hodges#8166.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Alpine and arctic tundra. |
| Range | BC north to AK. |
What does Opulent Tiger Moth - Hodges#8166.1 eat?
The diet of the Opulent Tiger Moth - Hodges#8166.1 includes Salix (Willow).