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Fact Sheets: Commonly Observed and Asked About Insects and Spiders Found in Alberta

Police Car Moth (Gnophaela vermiculata)

Police Car Moth
Police Car Moth
Credit: Terry Thormin

INTRODUCTION

When we think of moths, we generally think of them as being nocturnal (active at night). But some groups like the tiger moths are primarily active during the day. The Police Car Moth is one of these species, and is large enough and striking enough that it often gets noticed.

IDENTIFICATION

This is a fairly large moth with a wingspan of up to 50 mm. The wings are jet black with large white patches between the black scaled veins. As well there are two orange patches of hairs on either side of the thorax, right behind the head. It is this colour combination, that of an old style police car, that gives it its name. Larvae are hairy and black with yellow and blue markings.

DISTRIBUTION

The Police Car Moth is found throughout the province in or near forested areas.

TIME OF YEAR

Adults fly throughout July and early August.

HABITAT AND HABITS

The larvae of this moth feed on a variety of herbaceous plants and occasionally feed on white birch. Adults can at times be quite numerous even within larger cities. Adults actively fly during the day and feed on flowers like goldenrod. Like a lot of strikingly marked day flying moths, this species has defensive chemicals that make it bad-tasting.

SIMILAR SPECIES

There is no other moth in Alberta that one is likely to confuse with the Police Car Moth. Other members of the family (Arctiidae) include the tiger moths and the Virginia Ctenucha.

COMMENTS

This moth, even when it is very abundant, never seems to do any serious damage to the foliage.

For more information on the Police Car Moth you can visit the University of Alberta’s entomology collection species page.


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 Last update: December 10 2004