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I found this moth outside a couple of days ago and thought it was dead... A few minutes later though, it started moving. It doesn't seem to be able to fly very well and it also seems to have alot of trouble balancing when walking. Yesterday we discovered "it" was a she when she laid about thirty eggs in the container I was keeping her in. She is about 3 inches wide when spreading her wings. Can anyone help me identify her? What do these moths eat?

In friendship
Kyron

Oops! Forgot to mention, I live in British Columbia, Canada.

In friendship
Kyron

Hi kyron - I believe it is the Great Tiger Moth (aka Garden Tiger Moth), Arctia caja. I do not know if it feeds as an adult but probably nectar. The larvae will feed on plants: dandelion, plantain, dock as well as trees: cherry, alder and willow. However, moths will abort their eggs if not mated so the ones she laid may or may not produce larvae. I would guess that they would hatch in a week or less. Like other woolly bear caterpillars, they will winter over as larva, so you may want to let them go once you get them started or you can build an outdoor cage for them to winter in - depends how involved you want to get

lele

Here is a link. There is variation in wing coloration with the tiger moths so pics you see may not look exactly the same.
Arctia caja