Habitat ²

Inhabits dry rocky tundra. Nothing else is known about its biology.

Distribution ²

Yukon: Known only from Herschel Island, but probably more wide- spread in northern and eastern mountains.
North America: Alaska, Yukon and only one other known location in Canada, the Tlogotsho Range in southwest NWT.
Global: Northern Scandinavia across northern Russia to Alaska, Yukon and NWT.

Distinguishing Features ²

This large tiger moth is boldly patterned with yellow and black. There are no similar species in Yukon.

Yukon ²

There are many rarely-seen, poorly-understood species of Tiger Moths in Yukon. To assist in documenting their dis- tribution and life-history, Tiger Moth adults or caterpillars, and/or photographs can be provided to, Syd Cannings at Environment Canada (Syd.Cannings@ec.gc.ca) or Crispin Guppy at Ecofor Consulting Ltd. (cris@ecofor.ca) (both are in Whitehorse), together with location/date and GPS coordinates (if possible), notes/photos regarding habitat, and the plant species caterpillars were found on. Adult moths can be killed through freezing. Live moths or cater- pillars can be stored in a plastic container in a cooler on ice (at 0-10oC) for a week or more. Under these conditions live moths (if female) will frequently lay eggs, which can then be reared to provide additional adults. Collecting/ killing samples of rare moths will not adversely affect their populations – only a tiny proportion of the total population will be affected, as long as the habitat continues to exist. Photographs of all the known Yukon Tiger Moths are at www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/noctuoidea/provinces/yt_e.php. Click on “Family Arctiidae.”

Sources and Credits

1. (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by L.G. Johanson
2. (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNaturalist.ca taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Moth Photographers Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths

Range Map

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