Ruby Tiger
Phragmatobia fuliginosa
This record describes Phragmatobia fuliginosa (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-35 mm. Showing a gradual variation in colour, with the brightest individuals in the south, and much duller specimens in Scotland, attributable to the subspecies borealis . Downland, heathland and sand-dunes and in woodland clearings, farmland and gardens. It is double-brooded in the south, flying in April to June and again in August and September. In the north there is just one generation, in June. The larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a number of herbaceous plants. Fairly widespread throughout Britain, this species is common in places. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Phragmatobia fuliginosa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phragmatobia fuliginosa.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae (Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths)
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Phragmatobia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Downland, heathland and sand-dunes and in woodland clearings, farmland and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
It is double-brooded in the south, flying in April to June and again in August and September. In the north there is just one generation, in June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a number of herbaceous plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly widespread throughout Britain, this species is common in places. 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 Phragmatobia fuliginosa. 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 Ruby Tiger (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ruby Tiger
What is Ruby Tiger?
Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ruby Tiger found?
Habitat: Downland, heathland and sand-dunes and in woodland clearings, farmland and gardens.
When is Ruby Tiger active?
Ruby Tiger: seasonal activity - It is double-brooded in the south, flying in April to June and again in August and September. In the north there is just one generation, in June..
What is the life cycle of a Ruby Tiger?
The larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a number of herbaceous plants.