The adults can be found flying on warm days and visiting flowers, such as Buddleia. They also fly at night and come to light. The caterpillars can be seen from September to the following May, overwintering as small larvae.

Size and Family

  • Family – Tigers, Ermines, Footmen and allies (Arctiids)
  • Medium / Large Sized 
  • Wingspan range 52-65mm

Conservation status

  • UK BAP: Not listed
  • Nationally Scarce

Caterpillar Food Plants

Feeds on a wide variety of herbaceous plants including Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), Hemp-argimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), White Dead-nettle (Lamium album), Borage (Borago officinalis), plantains (Plantago Spp.), Ground-ivy (Glechoma hederacea) and Bramble (Rubus fruiticosus).

Habitat

Gardens, rough and disturbed ground, hedgerows, coastal cliffs, under-cliff and the higher parts of beaches.

Distribution

  • Countries – England
  • Resident and a suspected immigrant. Well established along the south coast of Devon and Dorset, extending inland to the edge of Dartmoor. Also found on the Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent and recently from parts of London, with a few records elsewhere
  • Distribution Trend Since 1970’s = Britain: Increasing
Jersey Tiger by Andrew Cooper

Jersey Tiger

Jersey Tiger - Tamás Nestor

Jersey Tiger

Jersey Tiger - Sue Davies

Jersey Tiger

Jersey Tiger - Vlad Proklov

Jersey Tiger

Jersey Tiger - Koen Thonissen

Jersey Tiger

Jersey Tiger - Bob Eade

Jersey Tiger

Jersey Tiger - Dave Shenton

Jersey Tiger

Jersey Tiger (caterpillar) - Tamás Nestor

Jersey Tiger (caterpillar)

Jersey Tiger (caterpillar) - Jürgen Mangelsdorf

Jersey Tiger (caterpillar)