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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) » Tiger Moths (Arctiini) » Arctiina » Virbia

Genus Virbia

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Virbia aurantiaca - #8121 - Virbia aurantiaca

Virbia rubicundaria? - Virbia costata - male

Virbia aurantiaca (orange virbia moth)? - Virbia

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)

Tribe Arctiini (Tiger Moths)

Subtribe Arctiina

Genus Virbia

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Virbia Walker, 1854

Bepara Walker, 1865a

Cathocida Hampson, 1901, misspelling

Cothocida Walker, 1865b

Crocata authors, misspelling

Crocota authors, not Hübner, 1823

Cytorus Grote, 1866

Eubaphe authors, not Hübner, 1823

Holomelina Herrich-Schäffer, 1855

Terna Walker, 1865a

Numbers

Fourteen species of Virbia are found in America north of Mexico.(1)

Size

wingspan 18-28 mm, based on numerous photos by Jim Vargo at MPG

Identification

Most adults are yellowish above on forewings, with bright hindwings, a typical startling pattern. H. laeta is striking dark brown/black with pink hindwings.

Range

includes eastern North America

Habitat

fields, open areas with hostplant; come to lights at night, but also found flying in daytime

Season

adults fly May-September

Food

Larvae probably feed on various herbs. Can be reared on dandelion, plantain.

Print References

Covell, pp. 64-65, plate (2)

Internet References

pinned adult images of 9 species and photos of related species by Jim Vargo (Moth Photographers Group)

pinned adult images of 6 species (CBIF)

adult H. aurantiaca and H. opella (Larry Line, Maryland)

North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists for that state: ferruginosa, nigricans, opella, rubicundaria

Works Cited

1.	Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico. Donald J. Lafontaine, B. Christian Schmidt. 2010. ZooKeys 40: 1–239 .

2.	Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005.

Contributed by Cotinis on 30 June, 2004 - 9:47pm
Additional contributions by Mike Boone, Robin McLeod, Maury Heiman, ceiseman, Kyhl Austin
Last updated 3 January, 2017 - 5:26pm

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