Garden Tiger Arctia caja

The captivating garden tiger is a rather eye-catching little moth with markings that vary highly. Generally they have dark brown forewings crossed with cream lines. The hind wings are a pillar-box red with deep-blue spots with a black edging. You can spot one during July and August.

Conservation status in Norfolk

UK Biodiversity Action Plan

Once a quite common moth over most of Britain, it seems to have suffered considerable declines in many places since the 1980s. Recent studies have shown that this decline may be partially linked to a period of mild, wet winters.
 

How to help

Leave some areas of bramble and nettles in your gardens. This will not only help the garden tiger but will also aid butterflies such as the small tortoiseshell and peacock.

Information on the Garden Tiger

How to recognise

The garden tiger is a particularly striking moth. The forewings are usually brown, crossed with broad white/cream lines, while the hind-wings are red (or occasionally yellow) with big deep-blue spots which are bordered with black. These markings can vary considerably and no two individuals will be identical.

Where to see

Caterpillars which are very hairy and commonly known as ‘woolly bears’ can be found on common herbaceous garden plants including nettle and dock. When fully grown the caterpillars can be encountered moving quickly across open ground in search of a suitable pupation site.

 

When to see

This species flies late at night during July and August in a wide variety of habitats and will regularly visit light. It can be found in many gardens and possibly the best opportunity to see this vibrantly coloured moth would be to look for resting specimens around outside lights. Alternatively, moth trapping events can be visited.

Did you know?

When disturbed the moth will display its bright underwing and produce a yellow fluid from ducts behind the head in an attempt to frighten off predators.

Finding out more

Norfolk Moths

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