Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Erebidae Members:	Apantesis Members:	330 NC Records

Apantesis phalerata (Harris, 1841) - Harnessed Tiger Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Noctuoidea

Family:
Erebidae

Subfamily:
Arctiinae

Tribe:
Arctiini

P3 Number:
930278

MONA Number:
8169.00

Other Common Name:
Harnessed Moth

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, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960)

Adult Markings: Species of Apantesis and Grammia resemble one another, but Apantesis are generally smaller and 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).
Male A. phalerata are usually recognizable by a cream or pinkish-yellow wash on the hindwings and a sparse band of small subterminal spots; in the other species, the ground color is usually a brighter or more solid yellow or red and the subterminal spots are larger or more confluent. Some males, however, may have larger spots or a brighter color on the hindwings. Questionable males can be easily distinguished by dissection: in A. phalerata, there is a conspicuous process at the end of the valve and usually a pair of posteriorly-pointing spines at the distal end of the aedeagus (see illustrations in Forbes, 1960). Females of A. phalerata are similar to those of A. vittata, A. phalerata, and A. nais, having a highly reduced set of pale lines on the forewings and broad, confluent black bands along the outer and inner margins of the hindwing. All three of these species can also have red or pink in the medial and basal areas of the hindwing and it is probably better to rely on males -- which are more often captured in any case -- for identifications.

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 are black and covered with brown to black bristles; a pale dorsal line is often present (Forbes, 1960). According to Forbes, the larvae of A. phalerata and A. vittata are indistinguishable, making rearing necessary to determine their identities.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable only through rearing to adulthood.

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
Flight Comments: Appears to have two main flight periods over most of the state: spring-mid summer and late summer-fall.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Most of our records come from fairly open habitats, including dune grasslands on barrier islands; Longleaf Pine savannas, flatwoods, and sandhills; old fields; and dry upland forests. A few records, however, also come from peatlands and bottomland forests.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae are probably polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of plants. Reported hosts include plantain (Plantago), Saltmeadow Cordgrass (Spartina patens), Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), clover (Trifolium), and Corn (Zea mays) (Tietz, 1972). We do not have any feeding records in North Carolina. - View

Observation Methods: Males come moderately well to blacklights, with up to 13 collected in a single trap; females are much more rarely collected. Does not come 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 species occupies a wide range of habitats and is broadly distributed across the entire state. Appears to be quite secure.

Photo Gallery for Apantesis phalerata - Harnessed Tiger Moth

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

	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-11 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-11 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-04 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-04 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-09-01 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-08-28 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-08-28 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-29 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-07-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Melody McMichael on 2025-07-24 Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-19 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2025-07-19 Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-27 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-06-14 Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-03 Currituck Co. Comment:		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2025-06-03 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-05 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-30 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Bonnie Eamick on 2025-04-25 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-04-04 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-27 Davidson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2024-10-27 Davidson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-10-04 Wake Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-28 Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-27 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-27 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-09-24 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-09-22 Orange Co. Comment: