Bug FAQSilver-spotted Tiger Moth
Lophocampa argentata · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: silverspotted tiger moth
Source: Wikipedia
The moth is about 0.85 inches long, with wings spanning roughly 2.05 inches. Its larvae feed on pine needles, can defoliate trees, and the hairs on the caterpillars and pupae may irritate skin.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults show brown forewings marked with silvery spots.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Body length is about 0.85 inches and the wings measure roughly 2.05 inches across.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
The hairs on both caterpillars and pupae can irritate human skin.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Found from British Columbia down to southern California and east through Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, possibly into northern Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat pine needles and can cause defoliation of host trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species produces one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range matches the habitat described above, spanning western Canada to the southwestern United States and possibly northern Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 14 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Texas.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
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/Lophocampa_argentata
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.