Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members: Spilosoma Members: 661 NC Records

Spilosoma congrua Walker, 1855 - Agreeable Tiger Moth


Spilosoma congruaSpilosoma congruaSpilosoma congruaSpilosoma congrua
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea
Family:
Erebidae
Subfamily:
Arctiinae
Tribe:
Arctiini
P3 Number:
930309
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 Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, 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.
Spilosoma congruaAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New%20Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: adults.
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Image showing flight dates by month for High Mountains greater than 4,000 feet, Low Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain: immatures.
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: Larvae are polyphagous, like other members of this genus, feeding on a wide range of herbaceous and woody plants (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005). Reported hosts include Amaranthus, Lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album), lettuce (Lactuca), plantain (Plantago), and dandelion (Taraxacum) (Tietz, 1972; Ferguson, 1975; Covell, 1984). In North Carolina, J.B. Sullivan recorded a larva on Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis). - View
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 SNR [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

247 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27
Rowan Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25
Buncombe Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25
Mitchell Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Beck on 2025-06-21
Pasquotank Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-21
Wilson Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-17
Wilson Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-04-29
Warren Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-04-22
Durham Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-21
Buncombe Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Darray Lynch on 2025-04-20
Nash Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-16
Wilson Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-16
Wilson Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-15
Chatham Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-15
Chatham Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14
Bladen Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14
Bladen Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-09
Madison Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05
Chatham Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-04-05
Orange Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-04-05
Orange Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-03
Wilson Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-03
Wilson Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28
Chatham Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2024-09-02
Madison Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-25
Wilson Co.
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Spilosoma congruaRecorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-25
Wilson Co.
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