Moths of North Carolina
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327 NC Records

Spilosoma virginica (Fabricius, 1798) - Virginian Tiger Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930316.00 MONA Number: 8137.00
Comments: One of eight species in this genus that occur north of Mexico and one of four species found 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: Has nearly all white wings, with usually just a few small black dots on the forewing (often just a dot at the lower angle of the cell) and just one or two spots on the hindwing (Forbes, 1960). Virginica can be distinguished from S. latipennis by the yellow rather than pink hair on the fore-legs and by a pattern of yellow patches and black spots on the upperside of the abdomen. The abdominal pattern also distinguishes S. virginica from S. congrua and Hyphantria cunea, both of which have pure white abdomens and are often much more heavily spotted. Spilosoma dubia is much more heavily marked on the forewings with black spots, but has a similar pattern of yellow and black patches on the abdomen, although usually more obscured by a layer of longer white hair. Estigmene acrea, another white tiger moth with black spots on its forewings, is much bigger, longer-winged, and usually more heavily spotted than S. virginica.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: The larvae, known as Yellow Bears, are covered by soft, long hair that varies in color from yellow to reddish-brown; distinguished from the similar larvae of S. congrua by hairs that are very uneven in length, with the longest ones extending outward about the width of three abdominal segments. The head is all dark and the spiracles are white (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005).
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)

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