Leptarctia

Leptarctia is a monotypic tiger moth genus in the family Erebidae described by Stretch in 1872. Its only species, Leptarctia californiae, was described by Francis Walker in 1855.[1] It is found in western North America, from New Mexico and Colorado to California and north to British Columbia.[2] The habitat consists of open forests, meadows and clearings in the mountains.

Leptarctia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Erebidae
Subfamily:	Arctiinae
Genus:	Leptarctia Stretch, 1872
Species:	L. californiae
Binomial name
Leptarctia californiae (Walker, 1855)
Synonyms
Nemeophila californiae Walker, 1855 Lithosia lena Boisduval, 1869 Lithosia adnata Boisduval, 1869 Leptarctia fulvofasciata Butler, 1881 Leptarctia wrightii French, 1889 Lithosia decia Boisduval, 1869 Leptarctia boisduvalii Butler, 1881 Leptarctia latifasciata Butler, 1881 Leptarctia albifascia French, 1889 Leptarctia occidentalis French, 1889 Leptarctia dimidiata Stretch, 1872 Leptarctia stretchii Butler, 1881

The length of the forewings is 12–17 mm. The forewings are dark gray with darker gray transverse lines and variable amounts of lighter cream patches. The hindwings are variable, but usually bright orange. Other variants range from nearly white to deep red or entirely black. Adults are on wing in spring with most records from March to July.

The larvae feed on various herbaceous plants.[3]