Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135
Spilosoma vestalis
This record describes Spilosoma vestalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Original description online: (125) Wings pure white, usually with several scattered tiny black dots; inner surface of front leg femur with pink or reddish hairs; head and thorax white, hairy.
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
Washington to California and Baja California. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Most California records of adults are from January to August. ( 4 ) May to June for Oregon and Washington. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of various flowering trees, particularly oak ( Quercus spp.)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Spilosoma vestalis. 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 Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135
What is Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135?
Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135 (Spilosoma vestalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135?
Forewing length 16-24 mm. (Powell & Opler) Forewing length 19-26 mm. (Pacific Northwest Moths)
How do you identify Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135?
Original description online: (125) Wings pure white, usually with several scattered tiny black dots; inner surface of front leg femur with pink or reddish hairs; head and thorax white, hairy.
Where is Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135 found?
Range: Washington to California and Baja California. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135 eat?
The diet of the Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135 includes Larvae feed on leaves of various flowering trees, particularly oak ( Quercus spp.).
When is Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135 active?
Vestal Tiger Moth - Hodges#8135: seasonal activity - Most California records of adults are from January to August. ( 4 ) May to June for Oregon and Washington. ( 4 ).