Little Virgin Tiger Moth
On June 28, 2014, there were several of these fairly striking black-and-white-striped moths around our porch light.
The fairly intricate pattern of white stripes is pretty much a perfect match for the Little Virgin Tiger Moth, Grammia virguncula. The related Grammia speciosa is similar, but the lines on the wings are thinner, and the range map doesn’t show it living this far east.
I didn’t get a picture of the hindwings, but they were yellow-orange with black spots. Like this one, that I posted way back in 2009, but didn’t really get an ID on at the time. The little midge near this next one’s head was about the size of a typical mosquito, if you want some idea of the size of the moth.
Here’s another specimen, that answers the question, “Is this a white moth with black stripes, or a black moth with white stripes?”
It is a bit more tattered, and on the rear part of the wing there is a spot where the white stripe is peeling away, revealing the black substrate underneath. Here’s a closeup:
So, black with white stripes it is!
The caterpillars are some of the all-black “wooly bears” that we find around from time to time, like this one, and eat things like dandelion and plantain.
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Really beautiful!
Gorgeous moth, outstanding photos!
I FOUND ONE ITS A BABY
I found one it looks exactly like this