Bug FAQMexican Tiger Moth
Notarctia proxima · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The Mexican tiger moth belongs to the family Erebidae. It was formerly placed in the genus Notarctia but was moved to Apantesis after a 2016 phylogenetic study.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
This species occurs from southeastern Oregon and southern Idaho through Nevada, western Utah and California, extending into Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to North America, specifically the western United States and Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 10 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Idaho, Nevada, Montana.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Where can I find the Mexican tiger moth?
It lives in the western United States, from Oregon and Idaho to Nevada, Utah and California, and also in Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Has the scientific name of this moth changed?
Yes, it was moved from the genus Notarctia to Apantesis after a 2016 study.
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 acreaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apantesis_proxima
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.