Cheshire
Macro-Moths - Garden Tiger Moth
The
Garden Tiger Moth - Arctia caja Linnaeus
Imago / Adult:
The adult moth (imago) varies between 50mm and 66 mm
in wingspan. The ground colour of the forewings is white with dark
chocolate brown markings. The hind-wings and the body are a bright
orange-red colour, the hind wings having large blackish-blue spots,
the head and thorax being covered in long brown hairs and the abdomen
having black horizontal stripes. This moth is extremely variable in
the placement and extensiveness of its brown and black markings and
has even been found with yellow instead of the red. It is a resident
moth which is single-brooded and normally flies from early July through
to the end of August. A widespread moth in the Vice-Counties of Cheshire
(VC-58) and South Lancashire (VC-59) but one which seems to be declining.
The moth comes readily to both MV and actinic light sources.
Larva:
The larvae, usually 55 to 60mm in length, is dark brown
and covered densely in long hairs tipped with white. In between the
long hairs the body is closely clothed in shorter black hairs with
gingerish hairs along the sides. The larva has a series of obvious
white marks along the spiracle line and possesses a black head capsule.
Foodplant(s):
The larvae consume a wide variety of low growing herbs
such as: plantains, docks and dandelions and has been recorded as
feeding on bramble and other low growing shrubs and bushes.
Overwintering:
The moth overwinters as a small larva hidden deep
within tussocks or beneath grass litter.