Spilosoma virginica

Widespread and common

Two generations. May to November.

Wingspan: 1¼″ to 2″

This tiger moth is easily-recoginzed when in the caterpillar stage.

The caterpillar is densely covered from head to rear with long, orange or yellow, occasionally red or black, hairs (setae). The setae are in clusters of several dark, short hairs and a single light, much longer hair. The longest hairs are more than three body segments in length. There is a small breathing hole (spiracle) surrounded by a white oval on both sides of each thoracic segment and all but the last abdominal segment. There are yellow markings on the abdomen.

The adult moth has a wingspan of 1¼″ to 2″. The thorax is densely covered with long white hairs. The abdomen is white with black and orange markings. The wings are white.

A wide variety of trees, shrubs, and low-growing plants.

The female extrudes an organ that emits a pheromone. Males are attracted by the scent of the pheromone. After mating, the female lays groups of 20 to 100 eggs on the underside of a leaf. The caterpillar feeds for a short time and then spins a cocoon. After two or three weeks in the cocoon it emerges as an adult. The last generation in a year overwinters as larvae. Caterpillars are discovered by humans most often in the fall, when they are searching for a suitable location to hibernate.