Arctiidae
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
| Arctiidae | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arctia caja (Garden Tiger Moth) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diversity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? genera 11,000 species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subfamilies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arctiidae is a family of moths with around 11,000 species found all over the world. This family includes the groups commonly known as tigers (which usually have bright colours) and footmen (which are usually much drabber).
Some produce foul chemicals. They can be poisonous, or can look just like kinds of moths that are poisonous.
Many species have hairy caterpillars which are popularly known as woolly bears. The scientific name refers to this (Gk. αρκτος = a bear). The caterpillars are usually active during the daytime. If disturbed, they will roll into a tight spiral. Colonial superstition has it that the forthcoming weather can be predicted by the amount of black on a woolly bear caterpillar.
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Species
Species include:
- Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)
- Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)
- Scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula)
- Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae)
- Giant Leopard Moth (Ecpantheria scribonia)
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