Anna Tiger Moth
ExploreInsects
Anna Tiger Moth
apantesis anna
The Anna Tiger Moth (Apantesis anna) is a striking and intricately patterned member of the Erebidae family. Native to eastern North America, this moth is celebrated for its bold geometric shapes and contrasting color palette. It undergoes a complete metamorphosis, with its woolly, resilient caterpillar stage eventually transforming into an eye-catching adult. Equipped with advanced sensory mechanisms, the moth is highly adapted to navigate the threats of the nocturnal world, making it a fascinating subject for insect enthusiasts and researchers alike.
Habitat: Typically found in damp meadows, open woodlands, forest edges, and old fields where herbaceous host plants are abundant.
Appearance
The adult Anna Tiger Moth features a wingspan of 4.0 to 5.2 cm. Its forewings are predominantly dark brown or black, intersected by a distinct grid of pale cream or light-yellow lines. The hindwings provide a vibrant contrast, displaying a bright yellow to orange hue adorned with thick black borders and large black spots. Its thorax is black with prominent cream stripes, while the abdomen is yellow-orange with a central row of black spots, serving as a bright warning to potential predators.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyErebidaeGenusApantesis
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its caterpillar is covered in stiff, dense hairs that irritate the mouths of birds and can cause mild skin irritation to humans who handle them.
The bright yellow underwings of the Anna Tiger Moth act as a flash defense, startling predators when the moth suddenly takes flight.
They belong to a group of moths capable of complex acoustic mimicry, mimicking the warning sounds of other, even more toxic moth species.
Special abilities
Ability
Ultrasonic Clicks
Uses specialized tymbal organs on its thorax to emit high-frequency clicks that jam bat echolocation or warn them of the moth's toxicity.
Ability
Chemical Sequestration
As a caterpillar, it consumes and stores toxic alkaloids from host plants, rendering both larvae and adults highly unpalatable to predators.
Ability
Freeze Tolerance
The caterpillars can survive freezing winter temperatures by producing natural cryoprotectants in their blood to prevent internal ice damage.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 2-3 cm
- Wingspan
- 4-6 cm
- Weight
- 0.0001-0.0005 kg
- Lifespan
- 1 years
- Top Speed
- 12 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 100-300
- Incubation
- 7-14 days
Diet & Feeding
Caterpillars feed on a variety of low-growing herbaceous plants and weeds, while adult moths have reduced mouthparts and feed minimally, if at all.
Age differences: Larvae are voracious foliage grazers, whereas adults primarily survive on fat reserves accumulated during the caterpillar stage.
Primary Foods
- Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
- Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)
- Wild Clover (Trifolium spp.)
Foraging Method
- Grazing
Ecological connections
host plant
Broadleaf Plantain
Plantago major
The caterpillar utilizes this common lawn weed as a primary host plant for nutrition and chemical defenses.
eaten by
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
An active nocturnal predator that attempts to hunt the adult moths, though often deterred by ultrasonic clicks.
host plant
Common Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
The larvae frequently graze on the leaves of this abundant herbaceous plant in fields and meadows.
Traits
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Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Anna Tiger Moth?
The easiest way to identify Anna Tiger Moth is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Anna Tiger Moth?
2-3 cm
What is Anna Tiger Moth's wingspan?
4-6 cm
How much does Anna Tiger Moth weigh?
0.0001-0.0005 kg
How long does Anna Tiger Moth live?
1 years
How fast can Anna Tiger Moth move?
12 km/h
What does Anna Tiger Moth eat?
Caterpillars feed on a variety of low-growing herbaceous plants and weeds, while adult moths have reduced mouthparts and feed minimally, if at all.
Where is Anna Tiger Moth usually found?
Typically found in damp meadows, open woodlands, forest edges, and old fields where herbaceous host plants are abundant.
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