Tiger Moths - Family Arctiidae and Family Aganaidae
This page contains pictures and information about Tiger Moths in Family Arctiidae and Family Aganaidae that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Tiger Moth, wingspan 30mm
- Family Arctiidae and Family Aganaidae are very close related, sometimes Aganaidae is put under Arctiidae as its sub-family. The moths in this two families are brightly coloured in orange, yellow and black. Their abdomen usually striped with black and yellow-red colour. The stripes give rise to the name "Tiger Moths". Most of them active during the day.
- Most Caterpillars of the two families 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.
Classification :
Family Arctiidae
- Tiger Moth- Most Caterpillars of the ARCTIIDAE are covered in dense dark hairs. The caterpillars are small to medium size. The adults usually have bright warning colour patterns, which are spotted in red, orange, black or white. Their abdomen usually striped with black and yellow-red colour.
Family Aganaidae - Tropical
Tiger Moth- This family is very closely related with family Arctiidae and sometimes put as its sub-family.
- Here we would like to thank Don Herbison-Evans for his kindly advices on the identity of some caterpillars and adults in our web site. His Australian Caterpillars web site is our major reference.
- Reference:
- 1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p908.
- 2. Moths
of Australia - I. F. B. Common, Melbourne University Press,
1990, p430.
- 3. Moths of Australia - Bernard D'Abrera, Lansdowne Press, Melbourne, 1974, p72.
- 4. A Guide to Australian Moths - Paul Zborowski, Ted Edwards, CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2007, p181.
[ Family Arctiidae ] [ Family Aganaidae ] - Back to Top
