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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Owlet Moths and kin (Noctuoidea) » Erebidae » Tiger and Lichen Moths (Arctiinae)

Subfamily Arctiinae - Tiger and Lichen Moths

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Range · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Snow white moth... - Spilosoma Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar - Lophocampa caryae Woolly Bear 2015. - Pyrrharctia isabella Virbia opella – Tawny Moth - Virbia opella Caterpillar Unknown moth caterpillar - Lophocampa maculata Caterpillar - Syntomeida epilais Fall Webworm Caterpillars - Hyphantria cunea
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)
Family Erebidae
Subfamily Arctiinae (Tiger and Lichen Moths)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Formerly family Arctiidae.
Explanation of Names
From the type genus Arctia, from Greek meaning "bear", for the appearance of the hairy larvae. (1)
Numbers
265 species in 88 genera listed at nearctica.com; 2 tribes in North America [Arctiini, Lithosiini]; a third tribe [Syntomini] is restricted to the Old World
about 11,000 species in three tribes worldwide
Range
cosmopolitan; more diverse in the tropics
Life Cycle
See one example
Remarks
Some of the information on this page was taken from the old Arctiidae page, with contributions from Troy Bartlett, cotinis, john and jane balaban, and Robin McLeod.
The most common response to danger is to suddenly wave their raised heads and tails.(2)
Print References
Hodges, R.W., T. Dominick, D.R. Davis, D.C. Ferguson, J.G. Franclemont, E.G. Munroe, and J.A. Powell. 1983. Check list of the Lepidoptera of America north of Mexico. E.W. Classey Ltd. and The Wedge Entomological Research Foundation. London. 282 pages.
Jacobson, N.L., and S.J. Weller. 2002. A cladistic study of the tiger moth family Arctiidae (Noctuoidea) based on larval and adult morphology. Thomas Say Monograph Series, Ent. Soc. America.
Kitching, I.J., and J.E. Rawlins. 1999. (The Noctuoidea, pp. 355-401 in Kristensen N.P. (editor). Lepidoptera: Moths and butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, systematics and biogeography. Handbook of Zoology/Handbuch der Zoologie. Walter de Gruyter. Berlin/New York).
Internet References
Moths of Southeastern Arizona--gives subfamilies, tribes according to classification of Hodges et al (1983), now outdated
Maryland Moths
Univ. Florida ENY 3005
description, numbers, and biology (Gerald Fauske, North Dakota State U.)
links to pinned adult images of species in western Canada (CBIF)
links to pinned adult images of species in eastern Canada (CBIF)
classification of superfamily Noctuoidea, showing seven families (All-Leps)
Dave Czaplak (Web archive link)
Interesting Journal of Lepidopterists' Society article on how new Arctiids are crossing our border with Mexico here
Zootaxa. Checklist of Arctiinae of US and Canada.
Works Cited
1.An accentuated list of the British Lepidoptera, with hints on the derivation of the names.
Anonymous. 1858. The Entomological Societies of Oxford and Cambridge.
2.Hidden Company that Trees Keep: Life from Treetops to Root Tips
James B. Nardi. 2023. Princeton University Press.
Contributed by Cotinis on 12 December, 2005 - 5:08am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, ceiseman, Edward Ruden, Randy Hardy, Marci Hess
Last updated 18 September, 2023 - 2:56pm

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