Tiger and Lichen MOTHS
Painted Lichen moth. A very common species that is thought to mimic fireflies.
Painted Lichen moth nectaring alongside a bee, on butterfly weed flowers at Cox Arboretum.
Harnessed Tiger moth with its wings spread. This species is very similar to the Nais Tiger moth. However, Nais Tiger moths usually do not have the two black spots on the collar.
Harnessed Tiger moth resting on a red coleus leaf.
This is an Arge Moth, another species of tiger moth. This individual is the only one I have ever seen. Found at my UV lights on August 26, 2020.
Virgin Tiger Moth. These moths are much larger than Harnessed Tiger moths, and they have more yellow lines on their wings.
Another Virgin Tiger Moth. This one was photographed July 24, 2022 in Adams County, Ohio. Note that the black spots on the hindwings are much larger in this individual.
Scarlet-winged Lichen moth. The background color is solid red, without the yellow highlights of a Painted Lichen moth. I have seen a few Scarlet-winged Lichen moths in Adams County, Ohio, where this individual was photographed. I have not yet found this species at my home lights.
I usually find Painted Lichen Moths in late June and July, with stragglers into August.
I have found Harnessed Tiger moths every month from April through November. My personal early and late sightings are April 28th and November 5th.
Harnessed Tiger moth. A very common species in our area.
Black-and-Yellow Lichen moth. I have found several of these day-flying moths at the Germantown MetroPark dam in late May and early June.
Harnessed Tiger moths eat dandelions and clover, among other plants, which explains why they are so common!
This is the same individual as above with its wings closed. This is the only Virgin Tiger Moth that has come to my home moth lights (July 21, 2025). I have also seen this species in Adams County, Ohio a couple of times.