Virgin tiger moth facts for kids

The virgin tiger moth (scientific name: Grammia virgo) is a type of moth that belongs to the Erebidae family. A famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus first described this moth in 1758. You can find these moths across North America, from Newfoundland in the east all the way to Alberta in the west, and south to Florida.

What Does It Look Like?

The virgin tiger moth has a wingspan of about 56 millimeters (that's about 2.2 inches). Its back wings can be different colors, from bright yellow to a vivid scarlet red. These wings often have one or more dark spots in the middle, plus another spot near the center.

Life Cycle and What They Eat

The young moths, called larvae (or caterpillars), eat different kinds of low-growing plants. Some of their favorite foods include Thermopsis rhombifolia and various types of Plantago plants. These moths spend the winter as larvae, waiting for warmer weather to continue growing.

Different Types of Virgin Tiger Moths

Just like people can have different looks, some animals have different groups called subspecies. These groups are slightly different but still belong to the same main species. The virgin tiger moth has two known subspecies:

• Grammia virgo virgo: This type is found around the Great Lakes, along the Atlantic coast, and south through New England to West Virginia. Its range also stretches west to northeastern British Columbia.
• Grammia virgo gigas (named by B. C. Schmidt in 2009): This subspecies lives in the southeastern United States, including places like the Great Smoky Mountains, and goes south to Georgia and northern Florida.