Tiger Moths - Family Arctiidae
This page contains pictures and information about Tiger Moths that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
Tiger Moths are small to medium in size. Many have bright warning colour patterns, which are spotted in red, orange, black or white. Their stout abdomen usually striped with black and yellow-red colour. The stripes give rise to the name "Tiger Moths". They are either distasteful or to predator or are mimic of distasteful species. Some even produce foul chemical.
Most Tiger
Moths fly at night but some are day-fliers.
Most Caterpillars of the ARCTIIDAE are covered in dense dark hairs, which gives them the name "Woolly Bears". The hairs can cause irritation in sensitive skin. The caterpillars are small to medium size. The caterpillars usually active during the daytime. If disturbed, they will roll into a tight spiral.
Most ARCTIIDAE caterpillars feed on herbaceous plants and easy to rear.
There are three subfamilies in Australia.
Subfamily ARCTIINAE
Subfamily LITHOSIINAE
Subfamily CTENUCHINAE
- Reference:
- 1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p908.
- 2. ARCTIIDAE - Some Australian Moths from South-East Queensland, Ian McMillan, 2006
