Garden Tiger Moth
Arctia caja
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Garden Tiger Moth has declined by around 90% in Britain over the last 50 years — one of the steepest declines of any moth, linked to climate change (warmer, wetter winters killing overwintering caterpillars). It used to be one of the most familiar moths of gardens and countryside. The adult is spectacular — brown and white mottled forewings, vivid orange-red hindwings with black spots, red-and-black body. The hairy black caterpillar is the 'woolly bear' familiar from paths in late summer.
At a Glance
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Erebidae |
| Habitat | Dune scrub · Rough grassland · Garden · Hedgerow |
| Diet | Adults: minimal. Larvae: nettles, dock, plantain — the 'woolly bear' caterpillar. |
| UK population | Declining significantly — amber-listed; formerly very common |
| Sefton Coast | Present in dune scrub; most obvious as the hairy 'woolly bear' caterpillar |
| Conservation | UK Amber List |
Where to See It
Dune scrub and rough grassland with nettles and dock throughout the Sefton Coast.
Identification
Large moth. Brown and white mottled forewings. Vivid orange-red hindwings with blue-black spots. Red-and-black abdomen. Very striking. Caterpillar: hairy, black with red-orange sides ('woolly bear').
Viewing & Photography Tips
The hairy 'woolly bear' caterpillar crossing paths in late summer is often the first sign — the adult flies in July and August and comes to moth traps.
Conservation Status
UK Amber List
This species is of moderate conservation concern. Population monitoring and habitat management on the Sefton Coast support its continued recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Garden Tiger Moth declined so dramatically?
The Garden Tiger Moth overwinters as a small caterpillar and is vulnerable to mild, wet winters — conditions that cause drowning, disease and inability to survive extended warm periods. As UK winters have become milder and wetter due to climate change, winter survival of caterpillars has plummeted. This is one of the most clearly documented cases of climate change directly driving moth decline.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.