Apantesis virgo explained

Apantesis virgo, the virgin tiger moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.^{[1] [2]} It is found in North America from Newfoundland south to Florida west to Alberta.

The wingspan is about 56 mm. The colour of the hindwings varies from yellow to scarlet, with one or more median dark blotches in addition to the discal spot.^[3]

The larvae feed on various low-growing plants, including Thermopsis rhombifolia and Plantago species.^[4] The species overwinters in the larval stage.^[5]

This species was formerly a member of the genus Grammia, but was moved to Apantesis along with the other species of the genera Grammia, Holarctia, and Notarctia.

Subspecies

• Apantesis virgo virgo (from the Great Lakes region and Atlantic seaboard south through New England, to at least West Virginia. In the west, the range extends to north-eastern British Columbia)
• Apantesis virgo gigas B. C. Schmidt, 2009 (south-eastern United States, including the Great Smoky Mountains, south to Georgia and northern Florida)^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Savela . Markku . Grammia virgo (Linnaeus, 1758) . Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms . August 8, 2019.
2. Web site: 930244.00 – 8197 – Apantesis virgo – Virgin Tiger Moth – (Linnaeus, 1758) . North American Moth Photographers Group . Mississippi State University . August 8, 2019.
3. Web site: Grammia virgo . Insect Fauna of Tallgrass Prairies . North Dakota State University . August 8, 2019.
4. Web site: Schmidt, B. C. . Robinson, E. . amp . Species Details Grammia virgo . University of Alberta Museums . E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum . November 13, 2020.
5. Web site: Cotinis . December 20, 2016 . Species Apantesis virgo - Virgin Tiger Moth - Hodges#8197 . BugGuide . November 13, 2020.
6. Schmidt, B. C. (2009). "Taxonomic revision of the genus Grammia Rambur (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Arctiinae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 156: 507-597.