Bug FAQLittle Virgin Tiger Moth
Grammia virguncula · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Little Tiger Moth, Little Virgin Moth
The little virgin tiger moth (Apantesis virguncula) is a member of the family Erebidae. Forewing length ranges from about 14 to 20 mm, and adults are on the wing from mid-June to late July, sometimes as early as late May or as late as late August. Its larvae feed on herbaceous plants, especially members of the Asteraceae such as dandelion, knotweed and plantain.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The little virgin tiger moth belongs to the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Forewing length is between 13.9 mm and 20.5 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It was moved from the genus Grammia to Apantesis together with species from Grammia, Holarctia and Notarctia.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars eat a variety of herbaceous plants, especially Asteraceae like dandelion, knotweed and plantain.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults fly from mid-June to late July, with occasional records from late May to late August.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The flight period is generally mid-June through late July, though some have been seen from late May to late August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It was formerly placed in Grammia but is now classified in Apantesis.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 28 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, New York, Connecticut, Vermont.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What family does the little virgin tiger moth belong to?
It is in the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult little virgin tiger moths active?
Adults are usually on the wing from mid-June to late July, sometimes from late May to late August.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on herbaceous plants, especially dandelion, knotweed and plantain.
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_virguncula
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.