Yellow tiger moth

Description

Arctia flavia, the yellow tiger moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Johann Kaspar Füssli in 1779. It is found in the Alps above the tree level. It also occurs in Balkan mountains (Rila), European Russia, northern Kazakhstan, Siberia, Mongolia, north-eastern China, and Korea. The wingspan is 50–70 mm. The moth flies July to August. The larvae feed on a wide range of plants. Arctia is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae. Therein, it belongs to the subtribe Arctiina in the tribe Arctiini in the subfamily Arctiinae. Species are well distributed throughout North America, Palearctic, India, and Sri Lanka. As a result of phylogenetic studies by Rönkä et al. in 2016, the following genera were determined to be synonyms with Arctia, and their species were reclassified in this genus. Palpi porrect (extending forward), reaching beyond the frons where the first two joints are hairy. Antennae bipectinated in male, with short branches swollen at extremity, and with a terminal bristle, whereas female has serrate. Legs hairy with hind tibia bears two spur pairs. Forewings rather short and broad.