Scarlet tiger moth
The Scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula), a member of the tiger moth subfamily Arctiinae in the family Erebidae, is a diurnal species renowned for its bold aposematic coloration that serves as a warning to predators of its chemical defenses.[1] With a wingspan of 45–55 mm, adults feature glossy black forewings adorned with white or cream spots and bright scarlet hindwings bordered by black bands, though rare color variants exist, such as yellow hindwings or additional forewing spotting.[2][3] This vivid patterning contrasts sharply against its preferred damp habitats, where it rests conspicuously on vegetation during the day.[4] Native to much of Europe and extending into the Near East, including Turkey and northern Iran, the Scarlet tiger moth exhibits a localized distribution, with stronghold populations in southern and southwestern England, southern Wales, and isolated colonies in Kent in the United Kingdom.[5][2] It thrives in wetland and coastal environments such as fens, marshes, riverbanks, floodplains, and upper beaches, but can also occupy gardens, woodland edges, road verges, and quarries where moisture is abundant.[3][6] These habitats support its host plants, particularly common comfrey (Symphytum officinale), which is essential for larval development, alongside hemp agrimony, hound's-tongue, nettles, brambles, and various shrubs and trees.[7] The species is univoltine, producing one generation per year, with adults active from late May to July, often flying in sunshine during late afternoons or early evenings, though they also take nectar at night.[2][3] The life cycle begins with females laying clusters of eggs on host plants in summer, hatching into black caterpillars covered in black and white bristles, featuring yellow dashes and white dots for camouflage among foliage.[3] Larvae feed voraciously from August through the following spring, overwintering in damp leaf litter or low vegetation as partially grown individuals, resuming activity in March when temperatures rise.[7] Pupation occurs in late spring within a silken cocoon on the ground or among plants, lasting 10–15 days, after which adults emerge to mate and feed on nectar from flowers like buddleia and scabious.[3][7] High overwintering mortality, often 35–80% in the wild due to desiccation or predation, underscores the species' reliance on consistently moist conditions.[7] Notable for its genetic polymorphism—particularly in wing spotting patterns studied since the early 20th century at sites like Cothill in Oxfordshire—the Scarlet tiger moth has contributed significantly to research on fluctuating selection and drift in natural populations.[8] In the UK, it is considered locally distributed and a priority for conservation due to habitat fragmentation, though not formally listed on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan; efforts focus on preserving wetland connectivity to support its specialized ecology.[2][3]Taxonomy
Classification
The scarlet tiger moth is scientifically classified as Callimorpha dominula (Linnaeus, 1758), with the basionym Phalaena dominula from Linnaeus's original description in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae.[9] A former binomial name is Panaxia dominula (Linnaeus), reflecting earlier taxonomic assignments.[10] Its taxonomic hierarchy places it within the following categories:| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Erebidae |
| Subfamily | Arctiinae |
| Tribe | Arctiini |
| Subtribe | Callimorphina |
| Genus | Callimorpha |
| Species | C. dominula |