# Ruby Tiger Moth (*Phragmatobia fuliginosa*) The Ruby Tiger Moth is a beautiful insect with bright orange and black markings. It is soft and fluffy, and it loves to fly around at night, lighting up the dark with its colors. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Woolly Bear Moth ![Ruby Tiger Moth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phragmatobia_fuliginosa01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Attribution · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phragmatobia_fuliginosa01.jpg) ## Appearance The Ruby Tiger Moth has fluffy, reddish-brown forewings with small black spots, contrasting sharply with its vibrant ruby-red hindwings that also feature black dots. Its body is hairy and often reddish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Erebidae - **Genus:** Phragmatobia ## Interesting facts - Adult moths mostly fly at night, but males are sometimes spotted by day searching for a mate. - Its 'woolly bear' caterpillar can make its own antifreeze to survive freezing winter temperatures! - Ruby Tiger Moths are found across a huge area, from chilly Arctic regions to warmer continents. - The hairy caterpillar of this moth can sometimes be seen speeding across paths in autumn. ## Special abilities - **Toxic Taste:** Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillars can eat toxic plants and store the poisons, making them taste awful to predators. - **Flashy Warning:** When threatened, this moth flashes its bright red hindwings, signaling to predators that it is not tasty. - **Woolly Armor:** Its caterpillar has a dense coat of stiff hairs that help protect it from birds and other hungry creatures. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 35-45 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars eat many types of plants, while adult moths primarily sip nectar or consume little. - **Age differences:** Caterpillars are voracious plant-eaters, while adult moths feed little, mainly on nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Dandelion, Plantain, Dock, Nettle, Clover - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — A favourite snack for North American little brown bats. - **Eaten by:** [European Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-robin) (*Erithacus rubecula*) — Feasted upon by hungry European robins. - **Pollinates:** [Common Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Visits common dandelions, helping them spread seeds. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's safe to watch moths, but don't touch them as they can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ruby Tiger Moth? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Ruby Tiger Moth's wingspan? 35-45 mm ### How big is Ruby Tiger Moth? 15-20 mm ### How long does Ruby Tiger Moth live? 7-14 days ### How fast can Ruby Tiger Moth fly? 10 km/h ### What does Ruby Tiger Moth eat? Caterpillars eat many types of plants, while adult moths primarily sip nectar or consume little. ### Where is Ruby Tiger Moth usually found? Grasslands ### How does Ruby Tiger Moth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Thomas Indian School](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thomas-indian-school) — New York, US · Campus ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Ruby Tiger Moth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-tiger-moth)