# Garden tiger moth (Arctia caja) > A striking aposematic moth with brown-and-white forewings and bright orange-red hindwings with dark blue-black spots, and a hairy "woolly bear" caterpillar. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/garden-tiger-moth/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Irritating hairs.** Adults do not bite or sting and are not dangerous. Caterpillar hairs can cause mild skin irritation or a rash in sensitive people; avoid handling bare-handed. If skin irritation occurs, wash with soap and water and apply a cold compress; see a doctor if severe or persistent. **Pets:** Generally low risk. Caterpillar hairs could irritate the skin or mouth of pets if they chew them; keep pets from eating caterpillars and consult a vet for persistent symptoms. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Arctia caja - Also called: Great tiger moth - Order: Lepidoptera (Moths and butterflies) - Family: Erebidae (Tiger and lichen moths) - Size: 45-65 mm wingspan - Colours: Brown, Cream/Off-white, Orange-red, Blue-black - Habitat: Gardens, meadows, marsh edges, hedgerows and other herb-rich, moderately damp places - Range: Temperate Europe and northern Asia, and across much of northern North America; absent from the coldest arctic zones - Active: Adults fly in summer (usually June-August in temperate Europe and North America); crepuscular to nocturnal - Lifespan: Adults live about 1-3 weeks; most of the year is spent as larva or pupa - Effect on plants: Generalist herbivore - Pest: no ## Overview Arctia caja is a temperate-zone tiger moth known for its bold coloration and hairy caterpillar. Adults have cryptic forewings that fold over vivid hindwings used in a startle display to deter predators. The caterpillars are generalist feeders on low herbaceous plants and are commonly called "woolly bears." The species occurs across much of Europe, parts of Asia and North America, and is associated with gardens, meadows, marsh edges and other herb-rich habitats. ## How to identify it Adults have a medium-large wingspan and show a strong contrast between forewings and hindwings. Forewings are brown with cream to whitish wavy patches and lines; hindwings are orange to red-orange with several large, rounded dark blue-black spots. The body is hairy and robust. Caterpillars are densely covered in long dark hairs (often black or brown) with reddish-orange bands or tufts along the body; they are typically called woolly bears. Pupae are inside loose cocoons incorporating hairs from the caterpillar. - Forewings strongly patterned brown with cream/white patches and wavy lines - Hindwings bright orange-red with several large round dark blue-black spots - Medium-large wingspan (about 45-65 mm) and a hairy robust body - Larvae are densely hairy 'woolly bears' typically dark with reddish-orange bands or tufts ## Lookalikes - **Cream-spot tiger moth** (Arctia villica): Arctia villica has darker forewings with larger, cleaner cream spots and hindwing spots differ in shape and arrangement; overall markings and wing shape are slightly different on close inspection. - **Jersey tiger moth** (Euplagia quadripunctaria): Jersey tiger has black-and-white striped forewings and red hindwings without the large rounded black spots seen in Arctia caja. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Females lay clusters of small eggs on host plant leaves; eggs hatch in about 1-3 weeks depending on temperature. - **Larva (woolly bear caterpillar):** Larvae are hairy, generalist feeders that grow through several instars over weeks to months; they often overwinter as larvae in leaf litter. - **Pupa (cocoon):** Larvae pupate in loose cocoons made of silk and larval hairs, usually in sheltered ground-level spots; pupation lasts days to weeks. - **Adult (moth):** Adults emerge in summer, fly at night and visit light sources; they mate and lay eggs to start the next generation. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Generalist herbivore: many low-growing plants such as nettles, dock, plantain, dandelion, sorrel and others - Adults eat: Adults have reduced mouthparts and generally do not feed; they live on reserves built up as caterpillars - Predators of the young: Birds, small mammals, predatory insects and parasitic wasps; hairs offer some protection and may deter predators - Predators of adults: Bats and nocturnal birds; bright hindwings and chemical defenses help deter some predators ## Effect on plants and gardens Caterpillars feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants including nettles, dock, plantain, dandelion, sorrel and others; not usually a serious agricultural pest ## Where and when to find it Adults at night around garden lights and windows; caterpillars on host plants such as nettles, dock, plantain and dandelions or in leaf litter where they overwinter. - Best time: June to August for adults in temperate regions; check for larvae spring to autumn. Best observed at dusk or on warm summer nights. - Tips: Use a light sheet at night to attract adults; photograph wings spread to show the hindwing pattern. Wear gloves if handling caterpillars. ## Fun facts - The bright hindwings are used in a sudden 'startle' display to confuse or warn predators. - Its caterpillar is one of several hairy 'woolly bears'; the one tied to North American winter-weather folklore is a relative, the banded woolly bear, and such predictions are not reliable. - Some populations overwinter as larvae and can survive cold temperatures by sheltering in leaf litter. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are garden tiger moths poisonous? Only mildly. They are not dangerous to touch, but caterpillar hairs can cause mild skin irritation in some people. Adults have chemical defenses that make them distasteful to many predators, so pets should not eat them. ### Do garden tiger moths bite or sting? No. Adults do not bite or sting. Avoid handling hairy caterpillars directly to prevent skin irritation. ### Why is a garden tiger moth in my house? Adults are attracted to lights at night and may wander indoors through open windows or doors during summer. ### How do I get rid of garden tiger moth caterpillars in my garden? They are usually not a major pest. For local control handpick caterpillars into a bucket of soapy water (wear gloves) or encourage predators. Broad insecticides are not recommended for small numbers. ### Where do garden tiger moths live? They live in gardens, meadows, hedgerows and marshy or herb-rich places across temperate Europe, parts of Asia and North America. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68330), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_tiger_moth). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.