Other Common Names
Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
Mottled Tiger
Identification
Adult: forewing yellow with four brown bands, usually merged; partial fifth band extends inward from costa; partial band darkest where reniform spot normally occurs; hindwing pale yellow, translucent, unmarked
[adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Larva: black at both ends with 4 or 5 yellow or orange abdominal segments; numerous thin white lashes arise from black segments; yellow abdominal band broken by black or sometimes red middorsal tufts
[adapted from description at Caterpillars of Eastern Forests]
Range
across southern Canada, western US, south in Appalachians to South Carolina, Kentucky
Habitat
Forests with hostplants (deciduous trees), Canadian and Transition life zones
Season
adults fly from May to July
larvae from July to September
Food
Larvae prefer leaves of poplar and willow, but also feed on alder, basswood, birch, maple, oak
See Also
Hickory Tussock Moth (
Lophocampa caryae) forewing has separate spots that don't merge into a blotchy band, and its terminal line of spots doesn't merge with the outer margin
Banded Tussock Moth (
Halysidota tessellaris) forewing has bands that are not merged, and are composed of irregular rectangular blocks; thorax has pastel turquoise stripes
Larva of
Isabella Tiger Moth lacks thin white lashes arising from black segments
Print References
Covell, p. 73, plate 12 #9
(1)
Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands, #14, p. 34
(2)
Wagner, Caterpillars of Eastern Forests, p. 27
(3)Internet References
pinned adult image by Paul Opler, plus common name references [Spotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth] and US distribution map (Butterflies and Moths of North America, butterfliesandmoths.org)
Macromoths of Northwest Forests and Woodlands pinned adult image by Jeff Miller, plus description, flight season, foodplants, similar species (USGS)
Lynn Scott, Ontario live adult images and dates
North Dakota State University pinned adult and live larva image, plus technical description, distribution, foodplants
pinned adult image plus common name reference [Mottled Tiger] and other info (Strickland Entomological Museum, U. of Alberta)
live larva image by Charlene Houle, plus description, foodplants, seasonality, life cycle (Caterpillars of Eastern Forests, USGS)
distribution in Canada list of provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
