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Our forum member from Germany captured the scarlet tiger moth in a photo at Omedu on the shore of Lake Peipus

 

The tiger moths, Arctiidae, include many species that are quite large and brightly-coloured for Estonian conditions: the garden tiger moth (Arctia caja), scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula), large tiger moth (Pericallia matronula), purple tiger moth (Rhyparia purpurata)…

 

Scarlet tiger moths are mostly active during evening hours but they may also fly towards a light in darkness. Clearings in fresh broad-leaf forests and forest verges suit them. In summer we meet the imagos of one generation, from mid-June to August. The female lays 200 – 300 eggs that winter as pupas or caterpillars.

 

They are easy to identify. The basic colour of the forewings is blackish green with a blue metallic sheen: they are embellished by yellowish white to orange spots. On the  hind wings, crimson and edged in black, we can see black spots. On the blackish green thorax of the butterfly there are two orange lengthwise stripes, and the wingspan can be somewhat less than five centimetres.

 

Compared to other tiger moths the scarlet tiger moth’s proboscis is well developed; they visit flowering plants rich in nectar industriously, even thistles.