Tiger, Tussock, Prominent and Hooktip Moths of Columbia County, Oregon

Owlet Moths and their allies (Family Erebidae) and Prominent Moths (family Notodontidae) fall under the umbrella of Noctuoidea superfamily along with the Cutworm and Dart Moths. False Owlet and Hooktip Moths of Superfamily Drepanoidea are a related group. Our coverage of any particular species is limited, and we’ve omitted many of the lesser-seen species. A fantastic resource for more specific information on all our moths is Pacific Northwest Moths.

Other Lepidoptera groups include Geometer Moths and their inchworms, Sphinx and Silk Moths, Cutworms and Dart Moths, Snout Moths and other Micromoths, Clearwing Moths, Plume Moths, Scoopwing Moths and Butterflies.

Owlet Moths and allies (Noctuidae)

Erebidae family

Tiger Moths and allies (subfamily Arctiinae)

Tiger Moths are one of our most recognizable families due to the plump hairy “wooly bear” caterpillars of several species.

Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabella wooly bear bugger columbia county northwest oregon — **Isabella Tiger Moth (**Pyrrharctia isabella**)** – Adult form of the famous “Wooly Bear” caterpillar. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Spotted Tussock Moth Lophocampa maculata columbia county northwest oregon — **Spotted Tussock Moth (*Lophocampa maculata*)** – A common forest moth across the country. (photo © Lee Cain)

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata columbia county northwest oregon — **Silver-spotted Tiger Moth (****Lophocampa argentata**) – West Coast forest species with distinct red legs. (photo © Mark Nikas)

Ornate Tiger Moth Apantesis ornata columbia county northwest oregon — **Ornate Tiger Moth (****Apantesis ornata**) – Common generalist found in both forest and grassland. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Ruby Tiger Moth Phragmatobia fuliginosa columbia county northwest oregon — **Ruby Tiger Moth (****Phragmatobia fuliginosa**) – Here a rare species in meadows and open forest. (photo © Matthieu Gauvain)

Brown Tiger Moth Spilosoma pteridis columbia county northwest oregon caterpillar larva — **Brown Tiger Moth (****Spilosoma pteridis**) – A rare species of the wet coastal forests in the Northwest. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Virginian Tiger Moth Spilosoma virginica columbia county northwest oregon — **Virginian Tiger Moth (*Spilosoma virginica*)** – A generalist with distinct yellow stripes on abdomen. (photo © Chuck Sexton)

Vestal Tiger Moth Spilosoma vestalis columbia county northwest oregon caterpillar larva — **Vestal Tiger Moth (****Spilosoma vestalis**) – West Coast forest species with distinct red legs. (photo © fredvedder)

Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabella wooly bear bugger columbia county northwest oregon caterpillar larva — **Isabella Tiger Moth aka “Wooly Bear” (**Pyrrharctia isabella**)** – Overwinters by freezing solid. (photo © Gavin Slater)

Spotted Tussock Moth Lophocampa maculata columbia county northwest oregon larva caterpillar — **Spotted Tussock Moth larva (***Lophocampa maculata***)** – Feeds on hardwood trees and shrubs. (photo © Mike Merchant)

Silver-spotted Tiger Moth Lophocampa argentata columbia county northwest oregon larva caterpillar — **Silver-spotted Tiger Moth larva (**Lophocampa argentata**)** – Feeds on Douglas Fir, other conifers. (photo © gmjohnson)

Virginian Tiger Moth Spilosoma virginica columbia county northwest oregon caterpillar larva — **Virginian Tiger Moth larva (*Spilosoma virginica*)** – Prefers hardwood like alder, oak. (photo © Eric Knopf)

Fall Webworm Moth Hyphantria cunea larva caterpillar columbia county northwest oregon — **Fall Webworm Moth (****Hyphantria cunea**) – Forest species. Web-living larvae. (photo © Michael Woodruff)

Garden Tiger Arctia caja columbia county northwest oregon — **Garden Tiger (Arctia caja)** – A generalist across all moist habitats. (photo © Louis Imbeau)

Ranchman's Tiger Moth Arctia virginalis columbia county northwest oregon — **Ranchman’s Tiger Moth (***Arctia virginalis***)** – Found in wet meadows and riparian zones. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Police Car Moth Gnophaela vermiculata columbia county northwest oregon — **Police Car Moth (****Gnophaela vermiculata**) – Found in riparian zones of mountain forest. (photo © Jeff Ward)

Yellow-collared Scape Moth Cisseps fulvicollis columbia county northwest oregon — **Yellow-collared Scape Moth (*Cisseps fulvicollis*)** – Day-flying moth of wet meadows. (photo © nilswarnock)

White-tipped Ctenucha Ctenucha rubroscapus columbia county northwest oregon — **White-tipped Ctenucha (****Ctenucha rubroscapus**) – Day-flying moth of wet meadows. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae columbia county northwest oregon — **Cinnabar Moth (****Tyria jacobaeae**) – Introduced species from Eurasia. (photo © Don Henise)

Fall Webworm Moth Hyphantria cunea larva caterpillar columbia county northwest oregon larva caterpillar — **Fall Webworm Moth larva (**Hyphantria cunea**)** – Larvae live communally in webs at end of branches. (photo © Zee Mazzacano)

Ranchman's Tiger Moth Arctia virginalis columbia county northwest oregon caterpillar larva — **Ranchman’s Tiger Moth larva (***Arctia virginalis***)** – Generalist feeding on everything. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Police Car Moth larva Gnophaela vermiculata columbia county northwest oregon caterpillar — **Police Car Moth larva (****Gnophaela vermiculata**) – Specialist on mountain bluebells. (photo © Jon Hakim)

Cinnabar Moth larva Tyria jacobaeae columbia county oregon northwest caterpillar — **Cinnabar Moth larva (****Tyria jacobaeae**) – Introduced to control tansy ragwort. (photo © Oregon Birder)

Tussock Moths (subfamily Arctiinae)

A unique aspect of Tussock moths is that only the males fly. The females are fat-bodied and flightless.

Rusty Tussock Moth Orgyia antiqua columbia county northwest oregon — **Rusty Tussock Moth (*Orgyia antiqua*)** – Found in forests. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Grizzled Tussock Moth Dasychira grisefacta columbia county northwest oregon — **Grizzled Tussock Moth (****Dasychira grisefacta**) – Found in coniferous forest. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Variable Tussock Moth Dasychira vagans columbia county northwest oregon — **Variable Tussock Moth (*Dasychira vagans*)** – Found in diverse forest habitat. (photo © bellaormseth)

Douglas-fir Tussock Moth Orgyia pseudotsugata columbia county northwest oregon — **Douglas-fir Tussock Moth** **(*Orgyia pseudotsugata*)** – Prefers dry forest. (photo © Alex Lamoreaux)

Rusty Tussock Moth Orgyia antiqua columbia county northwest oregon larva caterpillar — **Rusty Tussock Moth larva (*Orgyia antiqua*)** – Feeds on both hardwoods and conifers. (photo © sarahnwilson)

Grizzled Tussock Moth larva Dasychira grisefacta larva caterpillar columbia county northwest oregon — **Grizzled Tussock Moth larva (****Dasychira grisefacta**) – Feeds on Douglas-fir, hemlock, and other confiers. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Variable Tussock Moth larva Dasychira vagans caterpillar northwest oregon — **Variable Tussock Moth larva (*Dasychira vagans*)** – Feeds on hardwood, especially oak. (photo © junie_b_lively)

Douglas-fir Tussock Moth larva Orgyia pseudotsugata caterpillar northwest oregon columbia county — **Douglas-fir Tussock Moth** **larva** **(*Orgyia pseudotsugata*)** – Feeds on fir and Douglas-fir. (photo © Amelia Tauber)

Underwing and related moths (subfamily Erebinae)

White Underwing Catocala relicta columbia county northwest oregon moth — **White Underwing (*Catocala relicta*)** – Found in riparian cottonwood forest. (photo © gwisswaesser)

Ilia Underwing Catocala ilia columbia county northwest oregon moth — **Ilia Underwing (****Catocala ilia**) – Restricted to oak woodland, rare in our area. (photo © Kyle Warnecke)

Colorful Zale Moth Zale minerea columbia county northwest oregon — **Colorful Zale Moth (*Zale minerea*)** – Lives in riparian hardwood forest. (photo © Ben Keen)

Lunate Zale Moth Zale lunata columbia county northwest oregon — **Lunate Zale Moth (*Zale lunata*)** – Also found in riparian hardwood forest. (photo © Tom Myers)

Cerulean Looper Moth Caenurgina caerulea columbia county northwest oregon — **Cerulean Looper Moth (*Caenurgina caerulea*)** – Found in mountain meadows and clearcuts.. (photo © Mike Andersen)

Forage Looper Moth Caenurgina erechtea columbia county northwest oregon — **Forage Looper Moth (****Caenurgina erechtea**) – Found in moist grassland, especially clover fields. (photo © Robin Noel)

Euclidia ardita columbia county northwest oregon — **(*Euclidia ardita*)** – No common name, but closely related to the Toothed Somberwing. (photo © Liz Obsorn)

Ilia Underwing moth larva Catocala ilia caterpillar columbia county northwest oregon — **Ilia Underwing larva (****Catocala ilia**) – Feeds on oak in our area, especially Oregon White Oak. (photo © Steven Daniel)

Other Erebidae moths

**Herald Moth (*Scoliopteryx libatrix*)** – Found in moist mixed forest. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Herald Moth larva Scoliopteryx libatrix columbia county caterpillar northwest oregon — **Herald Moth larva (*Scoliopteryx libatrix*)** – Feeds on nettles in riparian forest. (photo © Lucina Brown)

White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis columbia county northwest oregon — **White Satin Moth (*Leucoma salicis*)** – Found in range of forest habitats. (photo © bellaormseth)

White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis columbia county northwest oregon larva caterpillar — **White Satin Moth larva (*Leucoma salicis*)** – Feeds on nettles in riparian hardwood forest. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Prominent Moths (family Notodontidae)

So named due to the manner in which the trailing corner of the forewing often protrudes upward while at rest.

White-dotted Prominent Nadata gibbosa columbia county northwest oregon — **White-dotted Prominent (*Nadata gibbosa*)** – Found throughout forest habitats. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Oregon Prominent Nadata oregonensis columbia county northwest oregon — **Oregon Prominent (*Nadata oregonensis*)** – Found only in oak woodland. (photo © Matt Hunter)

Pale Prominent Ianassa pallida columbia county northwest oregon — **Pale Prominent (*Ianassa pallida*)** – Found throughout forest. (photo © Jim Johnson)

**Apical Prominent (*Clostera apicalis*)** – Found in riparian forest with willow and cottonwood. (photo © Mike Patterson)

Red-washed Prominent Oedemasia semirufescens columbia county northwest oregon — **Red-washed Prominent (*Oedemasia semirufescens*)** – Found in moist hardwood forest. (photo © Mike Patterson)

Morning-glory Prominent Schizura ipomaeae columbia county northwest oregon — **Morning-glory Prominent (*Schizura ipomaeae*)** – Found throughout forest habitat. (photo © Mike Patterson)

Unicorn Prominent Coelodasys unicornis columbia county northwest oregon — **Unicorn Prominent (*Coelodasys unicornis*)** – Found in forest habitat. (photo © Jim Johnson)

Zigzag Furcula Moth Furcula scolopendrina columbia county northwest oregon — **Zigzag Furcula Moth (*Furcula scolopendrina*)** – Found in moist forest and riparian zones. (photo © LapisOre)

White-dotted Prominent larva Nadata gibbosa columbia county northwest oregon — **White-dotted Prominent larva (*Nadata gibbosa*)** – Feeds on hardwoods. (photo © Fierce Fig)

Oregon Prominent larva Nadata oregonensis — **Oregon Prominent larva (*Nadata oregonensis*)** – Feeds on oak, especially Oregon White Oak. (photo © Matt D’Agrosa)

Morning-glory Prominent larva Schizura ipomaeae caterpillar columbia county northwest oregon — **Morning-glory Prominent larva (*Schizura ipomaeae*)** – Feeds on many hardwoods. (photo © Fenrir Lombardi)

Unicorn Prominent larva Coelodasys unicornis caterpillar columbia county northwest oregon — **Unicorn Prominent larva (*Coelodasys unicornis*)** – Feeds on hardwoods. (photo © hkilber)

Hooktip Moths and allies (superfamily Drepanoidea)

Caterpillars in this group are often distinctive, with bodies that are raised on both ends. They use silks to pull two leaves together and then pupate between them.