Moths of North Carolina

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Spilosoma congrua Walker, 1855 - Agreeable Tiger Moth

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, BOLD

Technical 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: 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

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-28 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-28 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-25 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-25 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Beck on 2025-06-21 Pasquotank Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-21 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-17 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka and Sally Gewalt on 2025-04-29 Warren Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-04-22 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-21 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Darray Lynch on 2025-04-20 Nash Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-04-19 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-16 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-16 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-15 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-15 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14 Bladen Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-04-09 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-04-05 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-04-05 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-03 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-03 Wilson Co. Comment: