Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFErebidae Members:
Apantesis Members:
44 NC Records

Apantesis figurata (Drury, 1773) - Figured Tiger Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930253.00 MONA Number: 8188.00 MONA Synonym: Grammia figurata
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 Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960); Schmidt (2009)Technical Description, Immature Stages: None                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Fairly recognizable from a good quality photograph where both the hindwings and forewings are in view. The hindwings are usually crimson basally (sometimes pink or yellow), with a broad black band running along the outer margin and with a black spot in the medial area; in females, the hindwing may be completely black or possess a small spot of red near the apex. Fore-wings are black with variably reduced yellow lines. Vein lines are completely missing and lines along the costal and inner margins may be either absent or narrow, sometimes terminating before the angles of the wing. Broader yellow stripes are usually present along the medial, post-medial and post-cubital lines (terminology following Schmidt, 2009), often forming an F-shape lying on its side. The medial stripe runs obliquely up from the post-cubital line, meeting the costa at a right angle; the post-median is relatively straight, forming a right angle with the post-cubital and meeting the costa at an acute angle. A zig-zag yellow sub-terminal line is variably developed, sometimes forming two triangles with the post-median, sometimes fragmentary or entirely absent.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].
Immatures and Development: Larval descriptions appear to be lacking but Apantesis larvae are generally similar to one another (Wagner, 2005) and should be reared in order to determine their identity.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Found over most of the state except perhaps from the Outer Banks and other barrier islands and from the High Mountains
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
Flight Comments: Probably has two distinct flights
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The majority of our records come from open woodlands, including Longleaf Pine savannas and particularly sandhills; diabase barrens and glades; and dry, rocky ridges. In the Mountains, there are also records from New River State Park, possibly from old pastures. None of our records come from wet bottomlands or peatlands. Records are also missing from dune grasslands and maritime forest on the barrier islands, where many other species associated with dry woodlands and glades have been found.
Larval Host Plants: Members of this genus are highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of herbaceous plants, with Dicots possibly preferred (Schmidt, 2009) - View
Observation Methods: Comes moderately well to blacklights, with up to 8 being collected in a single trap. The mouthparts are non-functional (Singer, 2000, cited in Schmidt, 2009), so it does not come to bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S4]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be uncommon and somewhat specialized on dry, open habitats but uses a fairly broad range across the state; probably fairly secure

 Photo Gallery for Apantesis figurata - Figured Tiger Moth

Photos: 16

Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Bo Sullivan on 2021-08-10
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2021-08-06
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Steve Hall on 2021-05-10
Richmond Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-05-01
McDowell Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2017-05-01
McDowell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Robert Gilson on 2016-09-20
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-08-16
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2015-05-25
Warren Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2011-04-19
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2011-04-19
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2010-09-20
Beaufort Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2010-09-20
Beaufort Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2009-08-07
Warren Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Signa Williams on 2007-10-05
Camden Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Signa Williams on 2007-10-05
Camden Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall, Scott Hartley, Chris Helms on 2000-05-02
Moore Co.
Comment: Male; wingspan = 3.9 cm; forewing length = 1.8 cm