Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Apantesis Members:	137 NC Records

Apantesis virgo (Linnaeus, 1758) - Virgin Tiger Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Arctiinae

Tribe:
Arctiini

P3 Number:
930244

MONA Number:
8197.00

MONA Synonym:
Grammia virgo

Comments: The genus Apantesis is represented by 43 species in North America, including 13 species in North Carolina. Our populations may all belong to subspecies gigas, recently described by Schmidt (2009). This form is much larger and more intensely colored than the nominate subspecies, which occurs across Canada and extends southward in the East to at least West Virginia.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960); Schmidt (2009)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: A boldly marked Tiger Moth and the largest species in this genus. Easily recognizable from a good quality photograph where both the hindwings and forewings are in view. The hindwings are usually red or pink (rarely yellow) and have a row of black spots located along both the outer margin and in the ante-median area, the second of which is missing in the similarly colored A. parthenice. The forewings are black with both narrow yellow lines along the veins and a set of broader yellow bands running longitudinally and transversely. In A. virgo, the post-median line (terminology following Schmidt, 2009) is strongly bent at the middle, similarly to A. anna but contrasting with A. parthenice, whose post-median is much straighter. In A. virgo, the line running along the median vein is usually wider than the one along the anal vein, whereas in A. parthenice (and apparently A. anna), these two lines are both equally thin (Schmidt, 2009).

Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from photos showing hindwings, abdomen, or other specialized views [e.g., frons, palps, antennae, undersides].

Immatures and Development: Larvae are black and bristly, with orange-brown spiracles; setae on below the spiracles may be orange (Wagner, 2005). 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: Probably occurs statewide except possibly on the Outer Banks and other barrier islands

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: Has one primary flight: late July-August in the Mountains and late August-September in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. but with at least one specimen collected in May in the Coastal Plain. Overlaps but is usually earlier than A. parthenice.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: According to Schmidt (2009), "Grammia (Apantesis) virgo is essentially a species of mesic deciduous and mixed forests, associated with natural forest openings such as wetlands and meadows, and disturbed habitats such as pastures and roadsides." In addition to hardwood forests -- both upland and lowland -- we have numerous records from Longleaf Pine savannas, flatwoods, and sandhills, as well as peatland habitats and diabase barrens. We do not, however, have any records from the Outer Banks or other barrier islands.

Larval Host Plants: Members of this genus are highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of herbaceous plants, with dicots possibly preferred (Schmidt, 2009). Wagner (2005) mentions that Bedstraw (Gallium sp.) is favored in some areas, although that species is missing from a number of sites where we have recorded this moth. Other reported hosts include Chenopodium, lettuce (Lactuca), plantain (Plantago), dandelion (Taraxacum), clover (Trifolium) (Tietz, 1972; Covell, 1984; Robinson et al., 2010). - View

Observation Methods: Comes well to blacklights, with 56 having been caught in a single trap. The adult mouthparts are non-functional (Singer, 2000, cited in Schmidt, 2009), so they do not come to bait.

Wikipedia

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: Occurs across most of the state and occupies a wide range of habitats; appears to be secure.

Photo Gallery for Apantesis virgo - Virgin Tiger Moth

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

	Recorded by: Beth Siegel on 2025-09-19 Burke Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Christian Horton on 2025-09-19 Cleveland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-29 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-07-26 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: A. Kauppila on 2024-09-17 Burke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-04 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Owen McConnell on 2023-07-30 Graham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-29 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-29 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Tony McBride on 2023-07-23 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Tony McBride on 2023-07-23 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2023-07-23 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-07-25 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2022-07-25 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-08 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2020-09-08 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Roy Carlson on 2019-08-30 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall and Bo Sullivan on 2016-08-02 Ashe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2015-09-10 Burke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J.B. Sullivan on 2014-09-20 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: J.Wyche on 2013-09-10 Gates Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2013-09-01 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2013-08-03 Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2013-08-03 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2013-07-29 Transylvania Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: T. DeSantis on 2012-08-31 Camden Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Doug Blatny / Jackie Nelson on 2011-09-04 Ashe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2009-09-01 Warren Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2009-08-27 Warren Co. Comment: