Natural England

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Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

The Plant Press

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Ruby tiger moth - Phragmatobia fulginosa - Family: Arctiidae

Ruby tiger moth - Phragmatobia fulginosaRuby tiger moth - Phragmatobia fulginosa
© Rob Wolton/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

The dark brown hairy caterpillars are seen from May to June and July to October. Adults, seen from April to June and July to September, are reddish-brown, darker in the north, with black patchy markings on the hindwings. It is a widespread and locally common moth in most habitats throughout the British Isles. Usually there is a single generation of moths in May and June and occasionally they fly in sunshine and run rapidly over vegetation.

The caterpillars feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants in summer and overwinter when full grown. After hibernation, they do not feed but pupate in closely-spun silk cocoons amongst debris. Occasionally they do not overwinter but produce a small second brood in September.

Food

Heather, dock, dandelion.

Plants

Bell heather, Cross-leaved heath, Dandelion

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