Moths of North Carolina
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Apantesis Members:
80 NC Records

Apantesis nais (Drury, 1773) - Nais Tiger Moth

Apantesis naisApantesis naisApantesis naisApantesis nais
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Noctuoidea		 Family:
Erebidae		Subfamily:
Arctiinae		Tribe:
Arctiini		P3 Number:
930280		 MONA Number:
8171.00
Comments: The genus Apantesis is represented by 43 species in North America, including 13 species 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); Ferguson (1985)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Ferguson (1985)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Species of Apantesis and Grammia resemble one another, but Apantesis are generally smaller and the the pattern of yellow lines is usually much more reduced, with the median, lower portion of the post-median, and fine vein lines always missing in Apantesis; a good quality photograph showing the forewing pattern is usually enough to distinguish between these genera. However, the hindwings must also be visible to distinguish between the species of Apantesis, and even then only the males can usually be diagnosed; photographs must show the hindwings to be acceptable as records for this genus. (Note: The species formerly in the genus Grammia have been moved to Apantesis).
Apantesis nais is usually somewhat larger and broader-winged than the other species and males are usually identifiable where they possess a solid yellow hindwings with a row of large black spots or a broad band of black in sub-terminal area. A. anna is similar in color, but has a much more complete forewing pattern. A. carlotta has an almost identical pattern but has a much paler shade of yellow on the hindwings and never has a solid band of black in the sub-terminal area (except in females). A. phalerata can also have pale, cream on the hindwings, but has only small, scattered spots in the sub-terminal area. Males can also have hindwings that are largely red or yellowish-red, resembling A. vittata, although the subterminal black band usually broken into large spots in A. nais and more solid in A. vittata. Unfortunately, dissection does not provide a more definitive identification: the features of the valves and aedeagus in A. vittata, A. nais, and A. carlotta are all similar, showing similar patterns of variation. Female A. nais are similar to those of A. phalerata and A. vittata in having a highly reduced set of pale lines on the forewings and broad, confluent black bands in the sub-terminal area of the hindwing. Individuals with bright yellow in the basal and medial area of the hindwings are usually safe to identify as A. nais; female A. carlotta have a paler yellow shade and also have a much more complete set of yellow stripes on the forewings. Females with red hindwings probably cannot be safely distinguished from those of A. phalerata and A. vittata.
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Larvae of Apantesis are black and covered with brown to black bristles (Forbes, 1960). According to Ferguson (1985), A. nais larvae completely lack the pale mid-dorsal stripe found in the other species, but rearing is probably still necessary for reliable identification.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Appears to be absent over most of the southern Coastal Plain and uncommon in the Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Apantesis nais
Flight 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: Forbes (1960) states that A. nais has two flights, which appears to be the case in North Carolina, although our data are too sparse to determine a precise pattern.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Ferguson (1985) described A. nais as a woodland species, in contrast to A. carlotta, which he characterized as a grassland species. Our records are consistent with this description, almost all coming from hardwood forests and peatlands and none from the grasslands associated with Longleaf Pine habitats or the dune grasslands on the barrier islands.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae are probably polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of plants. Tietz (1972) specifically lists Common Plantain (Plantago major), Erect Knotweed (Polygonum erectum), Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), clover (Trifolium), and violet (Viola). - View
Observation Methods: Males come moderately well to blacklights but not at all to bait; females are collected at lights far less often.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Uncommon but found in general forested habitats across at least two-thirds of the state; probably is secure.

 Photo Gallery for Apantesis nais - Nais Tiger Moth

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

Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-30
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-30
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-06
Mitchell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-07-31
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-25
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-04-25
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-04-18
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-08-17
Watauga Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2023-08-17
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2023-07-12
Madison Co.
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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.
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Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2023-05-23
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and John Petranka on 2023-04-19
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-11
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-05-09
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2022-05-06
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-07-16
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-05-18
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2020-10-10
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Hall on 2020-09-07
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-29
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-06-29
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-04-05
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-03-29
Guilford Co.
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Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-05-25
Yancey Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2019-05-25
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-05-03
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2019-05-03
Guilford Co.
Comment: