Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial

Feeding Habits
Adults: non-feeding
Immatures: phytophagous

North American
Species: 265

Lepidoptera Arctiidae
Tiger moths and wasp moths

Special Characteristics: Small to medium sized moths. Most are stout bodied with thick hairs and robust wings. Many are very colourful and have brightly striped patterns on the wings. They often have their head retracted into the thorax and their legs are short and strong with very short spurs. The caterpillars have colourful tufts of hairs coming out from large warts on the body.

Comments: The larvae feed on the foliage of a wide range of plants and trees. Some species feed on poisonous plants and store the toxins in their bodies which offers them protection against predators.

Species:
Apantesis virgo (Linnaeus)

Common Name:
Virgin tiger moth

Feeding Habits: The larvae feed on pigweed and a few other plant species.

Distribution:
Eastern Canada

Comments:
The larvae are black and hairy with dorsal warts.

Species:
Cisseps fulvicollis (Hubner)

Common Name:
Yellow-collared scape moth

Feeding Habits: The larvae feed on herbaceous plants, and the adults feed on the nectar of goldenrod flowers.

Distribution:
Widespread in Canada.

Comments:
The adults are active during the day. They are common in fields, pastures and marshes.

Species:
Estigmene acrea (Drury)

Common Name:
Salt-marsh caterpillar

Feeding Habits: The larvae feed mostly on the foliage of low growing plants but also on various trees.

Distribution:
Widespread in Canada.

Comments:
The larvae are light and dark brown and covered with long brownish hairs. The salt-marsh caterpillar is sometimes a pest of cabbage and clover.