Bug FAQPhyllira Tiger Moth
Grammia phyllira · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Source: Wikipedia
The forewings measure about 17 mm in length. Caterpillars eat low-growing plants such as corn, lupine and tobacco.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Apantesis phyllira, known as the phyllira tiger moth, belongs to the family Erebidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Each forewing is roughly 17 mm long.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It prefers dry, open woodland and grassland habitats.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to North America, ranging from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States down to Florida and westward to Texas, Colorado and Alberta.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Oklahoma, South Carolina, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Connecticut, New Jersey.
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 plants do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on low-growing plants such as corn, lupine and tobacco.
Source: Wikipedia
What kind of habitat does it prefer?
It lives in dry, open woodland and grassland areas.
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_phyllira
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-26 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-26.