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All photos on this site are the property of John Himmelman. Unless stated otherwise, they have been taken in my yard in Killingworth, CT.

Pink-legged Tiger Moth

Spilosoma latipennis

July 29, 2008

Yeah, I know.  The legs are orange, not pink.  The color on the inner femora is variable but the presence of pink to orange is a good clue for IDing this species.

This individual eclosed from a cocoon in my studio this afternoon.

To the right is the caterpillar that became this moth - found feeding on goldenrod in my meadow on July 13, 2008.

Below is the cocoon, covered with its own setae (hairs) it created a week later.

Another view of the nearly pure white adult.

Have a look at its close relatives - Agreeable Tiger Moth, very similar in appearance but with an orange "bib".

And Virginian Tiger Moth, which lacks the colored bib and legs, but has an orange pattern on the abdomen.