Spilosoma vestalis Packard, 1864
93-0312
Vestal Tiger Moth
View Photographic Plate
WA : Kittitas Co.
Umtanum Cr.; Durr Rd., 2443 ft
46.9, -120.6
May 24, 2001, L. & E. Crabo.
Specimen courtesy of LGCC
Photograph copyright: Merrill A. Peterson
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Similar Species
Spilosoma virginica "species-data"
species-data
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Elevation (ft)
Identification
Adults
Spilosoma vestalis is our largest Spilosoma species (FW length 19 - 26 mm). It has pure white wings marked with a few black dots at the transverse lines and discal spot position. These are most evident along the postmedial line of the forewing and in the submarginal region of the hindwing. The top of the head and thorax are white. The inferior head and anterior inferior thorax are dark gray, and the anterior portions of the foreleg tibia and femur are bright red. The abdomen is white with lines of lateral black dots. The antennae are bipectinate, broader in males, with white dorsal shaft and black pectinations.
This species can be told from all other white moths in our region by its red legs.
Larvae
Larva is black with long tufts of black hairs along the dorsum of the body and pale yellow-white hairs along the lateral line. It is illustrated by Miller & Hammond (2009).
Habitat
This species is common in wet forests west of the Cascades, extending to moist forests in the Blue Mountains. This includes coastal rainforests, mixed hardwood forests at low elevations, and mixed conifer forests at higher elevations in the Cascades.
Distribution
Pacific Northwest
Spilosoma vestalis occurs on both sides of the Cascade Crest in Oregon and Washington. The northern limit is the Kitsap Peninsula west of the mountains and the vicinity of Ellensburg, Washington on the east side. It is limited to far western Idaho near the Snake River and has not been found in the dry portions of southern Oregon and Idaho.
Global
This species is found near the West Coast of North America. South of the Pacific Northwest it is found throughout California. A single record is shown for western Nevada in Ferguson et al. (2000).
Life History
Larvae
This species feeds on many kinds of vegetation, but appears to particularly favor hardwoods such as red alder (Alnus rubra) and Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana).
Adults
Adults are single brooded and fly in spring and early summer. Most Pacific Northwest records are from May and June. It is nocturnal and comes to lights. The adults do not feed.
Economic Importance
None.
Literature
Ferguson et al. (2000)
Miller & Hammond (2003)
