Scarlet tiger moth
The scarlet tiger moth has dark front wings with a green shine and white and yellow spots. When it opens them, it shows bright red back wings with black patches. Unlike many moths, it flies during the day.
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Fun facts
It flies in sunshine in May and June.
The caterpillars are dark grey with yellow stripes and little white dots, and grow to about 4 centimetres.
There are rare ones with yellow back wings instead of red.
Scientists have studied one group of these moths in England for many years to learn how colors are passed on.
Most asked questions about Scarlet tiger moth
?Is the scarlet tiger moth dangerous?
No. It is harmless and does not bite or sting.
?What does the scarlet tiger moth eat?
Adults drink nectar. The caterpillars mostly eat comfrey and nettles.
?Does the scarlet tiger moth fly in the day?
Yes. It is a day-flying moth, seen in May and June.
For bug experts
- Scientific name
- Callimorpha dominula
- Named by
- Linnaeus, 1758
- Group
- Moths
- Family
- Erebidae
- Classification
- Insecta > Lepidoptera > Erebidae
- Lives on
- Europe, Asia
Where the facts come from
- Scarlet tiger moth (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
- Picture by Walter Schön. CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Wikimedia Commons. The round sticker of this bug is cut from the same picture.
If we got something wrong, sorry, we are bug fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
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