Insects and Spiders - native

Pink-legged Tiger Moth (Spilosoma latipennis) on May 16, 2020

Submitter has sample

Description of specimen

White moth with pink on upper portion of front legs. I think it's Spilosoma latipennis, the pink-legged tiger moth.

Commentary

Dear Shaun, Thanks for the image. We don’t have latipennis in Oregon. Your moth is most likely Spilosoma vestals. The way to tell is the mostly pure white color, faint black markings, and the color of the foreleg femora which is hot pink to red. Here’s a link:
http://pnwmoths.biol.wwu.edu/browse/family-erebidae/subfamily-arctiinae/tribe-arctiini/spilosoma/spilosoma-vestalis/

Native species and no harm. Thank you, Helmuth

Helmuth Rogg
May 18, 2020, 2:29 a.m.