tiger moth

American  

noun

1. any of numerous moths of the family Arctiidae, many of which have conspicuously striped or spotted wings.

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tiger moth British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: tiger.  any of a group of arctiid moths, mostly boldly marked, often in black, orange, and yellow, of the genera Arctia, Parasemia, Euplagia, etc, producing woolly bear larvae and typified by the garden tiger ( Arctia caja )

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Etymology

Origin of tiger moth

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

While there are hundreds of woolly-looking species in Erebidae family, the most common and well-recognized woolly bear caterpillar is Pyrrharctia isabella, or the larval form of the Isabella tiger moth, says Marshall.

From National Geographic • Nov. 29, 2023

The most underrepresented species, the researchers found, include critically endangered ones like the dinosaur ant of southern Australia, the crimson Hawaiian damselfly, and the harnessed tiger moth found in eastern North America.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2023

A March 2022 study found that the human eye couldn’t tell male polymorphic wood tiger moth genotypes apart — but moth vision models with ultraviolet light sensitivity could.

From The Verge • Apr. 20, 2022

The tiger moth flexes the tymbal organ on either side of its thorax to produce clicks, which jams bat sonar and keeps the predators at bay.

From National Geographic • Feb. 3, 2021

From this, the perfect insect, the Isabella tiger moth, Pyrrharctia isabella Smith, emerges about the last of June.

From A Book of Natural History Young Folks' Library Volume XIV. by Jordan, David Starr