Moths of North Carolina
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589 NC Records

Spilosoma congrua Walker, 1855 - Agreeable Tiger Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930309.00 MONA Number: 8134.00
Comments: One of eight species in this genus found in North America, four of which have been recorded in North Carolina
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: White with a variable amount of black spotting, ranging from all white to moderately spotted. In more heavily marked individuals, a broken postmedian line is present with spots also located in the medial and sub-terminal areas. The abdomen is pure white, which distinguishes congrua from most other species of Spilosoma in our area -- the others have patterns of black spots and yellow or orange patches on the upper side of their abdomens. In much of the state, photographs that show the abdomen can be used to distinguish between these species, although in the Mountains, latipennis -- which also has an all white abdomen -- can only be reliably separated from congrua by the color of the fore-legs. Hyphantria cunea is very similar in coloration to S. congrua but is usually much smaller and slimmer and occasionally much more heavily spotted. The antennal shaft in Hyphantria is typically black, whereas it is usually white in Spilosoma species.
Wingspan: 27 - 47 mm (Covell, 1984)
Adult Structural Features: The coxae and femora of the fore-legs are yellow, similarly to other species of Spilosoma (except latipennis), as well as Hyphantria cunea and Estigmene acrea (which are also white with variable black spotting). Two pairs of spurs are present on the hind-legs in Spilosoma but only a single pair in Hyphantria (Forbes, 1960).
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Larvae are similar to those of other Spilosoma ("Yellow Bears"), but have an all dark head, unlike latipennis, and shorter, coarser, and more even-lengthed hair than in S. virginica (see Forbes, 1960, and Wagner, 2005 for details).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Adults are present throughout most of the growing season, with perhaps three peaks in abundance in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Occurs in a wide variety of open and forested habitats across the state, including dune grasslands on the barrier islands (at least at Jockey's Ridge); Longleaf Pine savannas, flatwoods, and sandhills; peatlands; floodplains; and mesic-to-dry hardwood forests in the Piedmont and Mountains.
Larval Host Plants: Polyphagous, like other members of this genus, feeding on a wide range of herbaceous and woody plants (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005).
Observation Methods: Comes well to blacklights but not at all to bait
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Mixed Habitats
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: This is one of our most abundant and ubiquitous species, occurring in most open and wooded habitats across the state. It appears to be quite secure.

 Photo Gallery for Spilosoma congrua - Agreeable Tiger Moth

166 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-31
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-29
Graham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Becky Watkins on 2023-07-29
Swain Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-27
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-27
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-07-27
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-24
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-18
Polk Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2023-07-18
Polk Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-12
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-12
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-07-09
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-07-06
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-06-25
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-20
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Ed Corey on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-09
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith on 2023-06-09
Alleghany Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka on 2023-06-06
Alleghany Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-06-01
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper, Erich Hofmann, Jesse Anderson on 2023-05-22
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-21
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-05-13
Transylvania Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-05-12
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-05-11
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-05-09
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall, David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-29
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2023-04-29
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2023-04-28
Madison Co.
Comment: