Royal Alberta Museum: Invertebrate Zoology - Bug Facts

[Caterpillars and Other Immature Insects]

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

Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica)

Virginia Ctenucha
Photo CD 0023 3291 1601, Image #04 - Credit: Terry Thormin

INTRODUCTION

This day-flying member of the Arctiid family of moths can be very numerous in some years and quite scarce in other years.

IDENTIFICATION

The most striking feature of this moth is the irridescent blue of the body. As well the head is bright orange and it has orange shoulders. The front wings are dark brown with a narrow white fringe at the tip, and the hind wings are coal black, also with a white fringe. The moth has a wingspread of up to 50 mm.

DISTRIBUTION

Found throughout Alberta except on the prairies. It is distributed throughout most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains and south of the Arctic.

TIME OF YEAR

The adults are present from June through early July.

HABITAT AND HABITS

Adults can be found in fields, disturbed areas and open woods. They have a slow fluttering flight that keeps them close to the ground. They produce chemicals that makes them bad tasting, and they rely on this, plus their irridescent blue warning colouration, to deter predators. The larvae feed on grasses, sedges and irises.

SIMILAR SPECIES

There is nothing else in Alberta that looks like the Virginia Ctenucha, but closely related members of the Arctiid family include various tiger moths and the Police Car Moth.

COMMENTS

Although this moth can be very common at times, it is never considered to be a pest.

For more information on the Virginia Ctenucha you can visit the University of Alberta’s entomology collection species page.

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Last update: December 10 2004