# St. Lawrence Tiger Moth (*Arctia parthenos*) The St. Lawrence Tiger Moth is a fuzzy, colorful insect that loves to fly at night. Its beautiful orange and black patterns help it blend in with flowers and leaves. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![St. Lawrence Tiger Moth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Platarctia_parthenos.JPG&width=800) Photo: Jeremy deWaard, University of British Columbia, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Platarctia_parthenos.JPG) ## Appearance The St. Lawrence Tiger Moth has jet-black forewings with bold, irregular creamy-white patterns, strikingly different from its bright red-orange hindwings marked with large black spots. Its body is fuzzy and dark with red-orange bands. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Erebidae - **Genus:** Arctia ## Interesting facts - Adult moths often don't eat, living off energy stored from their caterpillar days. - If disturbed, this moth drops and plays dead, surprising predators. - Its brilliant hindwing colors are hidden until it flies, startling attackers! - Its scientific name, Arctia, means "bear," just like its fuzzy caterpillar looks! ## Special abilities - **Warning Colors:** St. Lawrence Tiger Moth has bright wing colors to warn predators, because its body tastes very bad. - **Sound Detection:** St. Lawrence Tiger Moth can hear high-pitched bat sounds, helping it quickly dodge aerial attacks from hungry predators. - **Winter Survivor:** St. Lawrence Tiger Moth caterpillars can freeze solid and thaw, producing natural antifreeze to survive winter. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-60 mm - **Size:** 15-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 10-20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on plant leaves, while adult moths usually don't eat. - **Age differences:** Young caterpillars eat leaves; adults typically do not feed. - **Primary Foods:** dandelions, plantains, clover, broadleaf plants - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Common Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Larvae consume the broad leaves of this common plant. - **Eats:** Common Plantain (*Plantago major*) — Larvae eat the leaves, especially broadleaf varieties. - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Bats actively hunt and consume adult moths using echolocation. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Birds prey on both the adult moths and the slow-moving caterpillars. ## 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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [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 Don't touch moths without asking an adult, as some can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify St. Lawrence 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 St. Lawrence Tiger Moth's wingspan? 45-60 mm ### How big is St. Lawrence Tiger Moth? 15-25 mm ### How long does St. Lawrence Tiger Moth live? 7-14 days ### How fast can St. Lawrence Tiger Moth fly? 10-20 km/h ### What does St. Lawrence Tiger Moth eat? Caterpillars munch on plant leaves, while adult moths usually don't eat. ### Where is St. Lawrence Tiger Moth usually found? Forests ### How does St. Lawrence Tiger Moth hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Polebridge Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/polebridge-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District ## 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: [St. Lawrence Tiger Moth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/st-lawrence-tiger-moth)