tiger moth

American  

noun

1. any of numerous moths of the family Arctiidae, many of which have conspicuously striped or spotted wings.

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tiger moth British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: tiger.  any of a group of arctiid moths, mostly boldly marked, often in black, orange, and yellow, of the genera Arctia, Parasemia, Euplagia, etc, producing woolly bear larvae and typified by the garden tiger ( Arctia caja )

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Etymology

Origin of tiger moth

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

The researchers compared recordings of tiger beetle ultrasound, collected earlier in the study, with recordings of tiger moths already in their database.

From Science Daily

When the world warms back up, the caterpillars spin a cocoon around themselves and transform into their adult form: Isabella tiger moths, which are pumpkin-orange with black spots lining the top of their abdomens.

From National Geographic

The most underrepresented species, the researchers found, include critically endangered ones like the dinosaur ant of southern Australia, the crimson Hawaiian damselfly, and the harnessed tiger moth found in eastern North America.

From Salon

A March 2022 study found that the human eye couldn’t tell male polymorphic wood tiger moth genotypes apart — but moth vision models with ultraviolet light sensitivity could.

From The Verge

They pupate, forming cocoons, and eventually emerge in their adult form as Isabella tiger moths.

From Washington Post