Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136
Spilosoma dubia
This record describes Spilosoma dubia (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wings | Wings white, with heavy black spotting on forewing and variable black subterminal patches on hindwing. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen with yellow areas & black spots. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Spilosoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Canada & eastern US, but rare south of New York According to Dale Schweitzer, the species "actually does not occur at all in the vast majority of the US range shown" in the Peterson Guide. "Basically, it occurs across Canada and adjacent counties in US, then again from southeastern NC to FL, and not in between". The southern Coastal Plain part of the range apparently extends as far west as eastern Texas. Schweitzer suggests that the southern coastal plain entity may in fact be a different species than the northern Canadian zone entity. The Moth Photographers Group map for the species shows numerous "dots" in the area between these two populations, which are certainly based on misidentifications of similar species.
Seasonal Activity
May-July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: wild cherry
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Spilosoma dubia. 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 Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by anitagould , ceiseman , dennepj10 , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136
What is Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136?
Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136 (Spilosoma dubia) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136?
wingspan 32-38 mm
How do you identify Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wings | Wings white, with heavy black spotting on forewing and variable black subterminal patches on hindwing. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen with yellow areas & black spots. |
Where is Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136 found?
Range: Canada & eastern US, but rare south of New York According to Dale Schweitzer, the species actually does not occur at all in the vast majority of the US range shown in the Peterson Guide. Basically, it occurs across Canada and adjacent counties in US, then again from southeastern NC to FL, and not in between. The southern Coastal Plain part of the range apparently extends as far west as eastern Texas. Schweitzer suggests that the southern coastal plain entity may in fact be a different species than the northern Canadian zone entity. The Moth Photographers Group map for the species shows numerous dots in the area between these two populations, which are certainly based on misidentifications of similar species.
What does Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136 eat?
The diet of the Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136 includes wild cherry.
When is Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136 active?
Dubious Tiger Moth - Hodges#8136: seasonal activity - May-July.