Cinnabar Moth - Tyria jacobaeae - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#3786

Copyright © 2004 Don Woodman

Cinnabar Moth - Tyria jacobaeae

Auburn, Washington, USA
May 13, 2004

Bright red. Spotted it from about 50 feet or so. Wingspan is only about 30-40mm. Given the shape of the antenna, I am of the opinion that this is a butterfly, not a moth.

Contributed by Don Woodman on 14 May, 2004 - 1:01pm
Last updated 16 May, 2004 - 8:08pm

Cinnabar Moth

Nice picture!

… seanrosecheek, 14 June, 2004 - 11:43pm

Lovely! Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae)

Lovely! I'll be on the lookout for this the next time (I hope soon) I visit the Pacific Northwest.
This is an Arctiid (Tiger) Moth. (I think all North American butterflies have clubbed antennae.) Looks like the Cinnabar Moth, Tyria jacobaeae.
See the Moths of North America page, which is where I found it.
A better acount at Macromoths of NW Forests, gives wingspan as 3.7 cm.

Again, wow! That is a pretty one. Thanks.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 14 May, 2004 - 1:14pm

Cinnabar Moth

I have some additional pictures if you are interested.

… Don Woodman, 14 May, 2004 - 6:31pm

Host plant

The larvae of this moth like to feed on tansy ragwort. Look for the adults to fly May through mid June. Finding caterpillars is not that difficult. Easy to raise if you can have some host plants already potted. This moth was imported to help curb the imported ragwort.

… Scott Nelson, 21 January, 2006 - 1:49pm

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