Virginian Tiger Moth Spilosoma virginica Fabricius, 1798    Synonyms: Hodges #8137, Yellow Woolybear Moth.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Erebidae   >   Genus Spilosoma   

Status:

Widespread in North America and expected throughout Maryland. Caterpillars found from May through November.

Description:

Caterpillars are extremely variable in color. Note that some hairs are much longer than others, usually one very long hair per tuft.

Relationships:

Uses a wide variety of larval host plants.

There are 308 records in the project database.

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A female Virginian Tiger Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (5/7/2020). The eggs identify the moth as a female, their color helped to distinguish this moth from other white moths in the family Erebidae. Per BugGuide, "The egg masses of S. virginica are typically yellow..." Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Pasadena, Maryland (7/27/2013). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/18/2014). Verified by Roger Downer/BAMONA. Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/28/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/30/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth on Assateague Island, Maryland (7/15/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/15/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth on Assateague Island, Maryland (7/15/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A female Virginian Tiger Moth in Cecil Co., Maryland (4/21/2013). Photo by Bill Keim. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/23/2014). Photo by Jesse Christopherson. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/14/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A female Virginian Tiger Moth in Cecil Co., Maryland (4/21/2013). Photo by Bill Keim. (MBP list)

Virginian Tiger Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/11/2009). Photo by Eric Gofreed. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/3/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/10/2004). Photo by Dave Czaplak. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/10/2004). Photo by Dave Czaplak. (MBP list)

Virginian Tiger Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/12/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Kent Co., Maryland (6/6/2014). Photo by Dan Small. (MBP list)

Virginian Tiger Moth in Prince George's, Maryland (8/11/2009). Photo by Eric Gofreed. (MBP list)

Virginian Tiger Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/21/2022). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland. Photo by Bob Patterson. (MBP list)

Virginian Tiger Moth in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/31/2006). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (9/3/2005). Photo by Larry Line. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth collected in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/26/2001). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/11/2020). Determined by Roger Downer/BAMONA. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/14/2014). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar in Washington Co., Maryland (9/14/2020). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/25/2016). Verified by Roger Downer/BAMONA. Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/24/2017). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar feeding on Wingstem in Howard Co., Maryland (9/4/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/23/2010). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar in Baltimore City, Maryland (9/4/2007). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/8/2006). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Virginian Tiger Moth larva in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/9/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Virginian Tiger Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/11/2015). (c) treichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Spilosoma virginica caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (9/10/2022). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)


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