Erebidae

72.027 Cream-spot Tiger Arctia villica villica (Linnaeus, 1758)

Local England, Wales

Arctia villica britannica Oberthür, 1911

Local England, Wales, Channel Islands

Similar species: This moth is unlikely to be mistaken for any other British or Irish species.

Forewing: 25 to 32mm

Habitats: Downland, heathland, rough grassland, open woodland clearings, the inner margins of salt-marsh, coastal cliff-tops and sand-dunes.

Habits: The moth is occasionally found at rest during the day, but normally flies from dusk and comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on plantains, docks, White Dead-nettle, chickweeds, hawkweeds, Dandelion, ragworts, gorse, Black Horehound and many other low growing herbaceous plants. It continues feeding and basking on warm sunny days throughout the winter and early spring. It pupates in a flimsy cocoon in the leaf litter.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Yarrow, knapweeds, hawk-bits, strawberries and Common Nettle.