JOYFUL VIRBIA

JOYFUL VIRBIA

Virbia laeata
TIGER AND LICHEN MOTH (Erebidae)

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The Joyful Virbia has a forewing length of 1/2 inch in the male and 3/4 inch in the female. The forewing is dark gray. It sometimes has a thin pink costal streak. The hindwing is salmon pink with a wide black border. The abdomen is salmon pink with a series of black dots ranging from the largest at the top to the smallest at the end of the abdomen.

This species was found and photographed at Fontenelle Forest in June 2018 during mothing surveys. Adults fly in June and July. It ranges from New Brunswick south to Florida and Texas west to Minnesota

The larvae reportedly eat the leaves of dandelion, plaintain, pigweed and other forbs. The scientific name for this species was formerly  Holomelina laeta.

The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Babs Padelford.