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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Erebidae
930316 – 8137   Spilosoma virginica (Fabricius, 1798)
             Virginian Tiger Moth

© David Reed
Larva and
Host Plants:
Host familiy: Acer Alcea Agaricus[Fungi] Allium Alnus Althaea Amaranthus Ambrosia Apium Arachis Aralia Arctium Asp..  Host genera: Acer Alcea Agaricus[Fungi] Allium Alnus Althaea Amaranthus Ambrosia Apium Arachis Aralia Arctium Asp...  Host extended: Acer, Alcea, Allium, Alnus, Althaea, Amaranthus, Ambrosia, Apium, Arachis, Aralia, Arctium, Asparagu...  Host extended: larval hosts include more than 43 families of woody & herbaceous dicotyledonous & monocotyledonous a.  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:
  • virginica (Fabricius, 1798) (Bombyx) - MONA 1983: 8137
  • fumosa Strecker, 1900 (Spilosoma)
  • References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)
    • Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
    • Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
    • Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 47.24m; p. 270. Book Review and ordering
    • Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
    • Species Page at Block Island Moths
    • Species Page at BugGuide.Net
    • Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum
    • Species Page at Mass Moths
    • Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
    • Species Page at iNaturalist
    Spilosoma virginica
    © Bob Patterson
    Spilosoma virginica
    © John Davis
    Spilosoma virginica
    © John Davis
    Spilosoma virginica
    © John Davis
    Spilosoma virginica
    © Jim Kennedy
    Spilosoma virginica
    © Lewis Scharpf
    Spilosoma virginica
    © Ken Childs
    Spilosoma virginica
    © Carol Wolf
    Spilosoma virginica
    © Ken Childs
    Spilosoma virginica
    LG – © Jim Troubridge
    Spilosoma virginica
    30mm – © Jim Vargo
    Spilosoma virginica
    © Canadian National Collection LG

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Valerie G. Bugh

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Valerie G. Bugh

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Martha Reinhardt

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Martha Reinhardt

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Bruce Duncan

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Bob Moul

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Howell Curtis

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Jason Dombroskie

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Bob Moul

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Valerie G. Bugh

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Ken Childs LG

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Betsy Higgins

    Spilosoma virginica
    © Betsy Higgins


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