Spilosoma virginica

Spilosoma virginica larva eating Clustered Bur-reed (Sparganium glomeratum) leaf.

comments (9)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Wow, it's like a flame! If you struggle to find the ID, would you allow me to post the photo in a Facebook moth group? Posted 5 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  I'm fine with that. Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Great! What do you think of Euchaetes egle (milkweed tiger moth)? Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      I'm leaning towards Spilosoma (see below). I did compare it to various Euchaetes but no good matches. Posted 5 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Was it wet? Or, did it look diseased? It looks a lot like Spilosoma virginica, but I've never seen it so clumpy like this. Posted 5 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  I was wondering if it had fallen in the water and then climbed up on the bur-reed but it was dry when I saw it. Still, it may have fallen in earlier and the hairs just dried like that. There is a thin white line done the middle of the face and another coming from the first spiracle. The legs are black with lighter feet.
  
  This one from BG sort of looks the same but with better hair: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1601926/bgimage Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    It looks like a likely ID to me, as this species does have some variation. Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Gary B
      
      Lion
      
      The variation is crazy from what I've seen on BG. Looks like I can add Spilosoma virginica as another insect predator of Sparganium glomeratum. Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Agreed - I was just looking at the photos as well and the variation is insane! And, indeed, it appears that this cat finds Sparganium glomeratum to be quite tasty. Posted 5 years ago

The Virginia tiger moth

"Spilosoma virginica" is a species of moth in the Arctiinae subfamily. As a caterpillar, it is known as the Yellow woolly bear or Yellow bear caterpillar. As an adult, it is known as the Virginia tiger moth.

Info 24 0

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by Gary B