Great Tiger Moth

When the weather begins to warm up you are likely to see a common and colorful variation of moths on your outdoor wall known commonly as a Tiger Moth.  According to Merrill Peterson’s “Pacific Northwest Insects” ( a wonderful book) there are 9 different species of Tiger Moths. Each of them have noticeable color variations but one in particular is quite distinctive. Some time ago I caught photos of that one – the Great Tiger Moth. Of all the Tiger Moth family members the Great Tiger Moth boasts the most resemblance to the big cat, and looking at one head on easily demonstrates where that common name came from.