Garden tiger moth
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| Arctia caja Linnaeus, 1758 |
The garden tiger moth (Arctia caja) is a moth of the Arctiidae family.
It has a wingspan of 45 to 65 millimetres (1¾ to 2½ inches). The design of the wings varies: the front wings are brown with a white pattern (which can however be missing), the back wings orange with a pattern of black dots. The conspicuous patterns serve as a warning to predators, because the moth's blood is poisonous. Its effects are not yet fully known. The colours are also ideal for frightening predators like the titmouse: the moth sits on the trunk in such a way that the bird sees only the side with the brown spots. If the bird comes closer, the moth quickly shows its red colour and flies away. In this way, it successfully confuses the bird.
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[edit] Distribution
The garden tiger moth is found throughout Europe as far north as Lapland, in Asia, and in North America. In the mountains this species is found up to an elevation of 2,000 metres (6,600 feet). The garden tiger moth loves damp places, which is why it is particularly common in river valleys as well as gardens and parks. The moth is nocturnal and can usually only be seen flying around a source of light. The distinctively coloured, long-haired caterpillar, on the other hand, is seen more frequently. Itc can grow up to 6 cm (2½ inches) long and plays dead when in danger.
[edit] Food
The caterpillar of the garden tiger moth feeds on various kinds of non-woody plants, as well as bushes and trees. It is especially fond of raspberry, blackberry, viburnum, honeysuckle, erica, and broom.
[edit] Development
Eggs are laid starting in July. Large bluish-white clutches of eggs are laid on the lower surfaces of leaves. The caterpillars hatch in August. They spend the winter on the ground in protected places and pupate from June to July of the following year. The moths hatch from July to August.
[edit] Bibliography
- Günter Ebert (ed.): Die Schmetterlinge Baden-Württembergs Band 5, Nachtfalter III (Sesiidae, Arctiidae, Noctuidae). Ulmer Verlag Stuttgart 1997. ISBN 3-8001-3481-0
[edit] External links
- Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa
- Fauna Europaea: Taxonomy
- www.lepiforum.de: Photos and taxonomie (German)
- www.schmetterling-raupe.de (German)
- www.faunistik.net: photos (German)
- www.insektenbox.de (German)
This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of 4 June 2006.
