Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163
Arctia virginalis
This record describes Arctia virginalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Geographic Range
w US, s. BC - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
mostly: Mar-July (BG data)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on various herbaceous plants.
Life History
Life cycle images: eggs; larva; newly emerged adult; adult female
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Arctia virginalis. 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 Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163
Where is Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163 found?
Range: w US, s. BC - Map (MPG)
What does Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163 eat?
The diet of the Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163 includes Larvae feed on various herbaceous plants..
When is Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163 active?
Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163: seasonal activity - mostly: Mar-July (BG data).
What is the life cycle of a Ranchman's Tiger Moth - Hodges#8163?
Life cycle images: eggs; larva; newly emerged adult; adult female