Bug FAQVirgin Tiger Moth
Grammia virgo · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
The virgin tiger moth has a wingspan of about 56 mm. It lives across North America from Newfoundland down to Florida and west to Alberta. Its caterpillars eat low-growing plants such as Thermopsis rhombifolia and Plantago species, and they spend the winter as larvae.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The virgin tiger moth belongs to the family Erebidae and is scientifically named Apantesis virgo.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan of roughly 56 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on a variety of low-growing plants, including Thermopsis rhombifolia and species of Plantago.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species overwinters in the larval stage.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers North America, from Newfoundland south to Florida and west to Alberta.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It was formerly placed in the genus Grammia but has been moved to Apantesis along with related genera.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 40 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, Minnesota, Ohio.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
Questions people ask
What plants do virgin tiger moth caterpillars eat?
They feed on low-growing plants such as Thermopsis rhombifolia and Plantago species.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the virgin tiger moth found?
It occurs across North America from Newfoundland to Florida and west to Alberta.
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_virgo
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.