Bug FAQBanded Tiger Moth
Apantesis vittata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The banded tiger moth (Apantesis vittata) is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 32 to 42 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The banded tiger moth belongs to the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures about 3.2 to 4.2 centimeters.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in U.S. states from Maryland down through Florida and west to Kentucky and Louisiana.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on various herbs, including dandelion.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are present from early spring through fall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is in the United States covering those states.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see adult banded tiger moths?
Adults are active from March through October.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Erebidae)
Spongy MothLymantria disparDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cuneaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown-tail MothEuproctis chrysorrhoeaCan irritate skin
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabella
Virginian Tiger MothSpilosoma virginicaCan irritate skin
Salt Marsh MothEstigmene acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apantesis_vittata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.