Appearance

Appearance

Wingspan is about 1.3–1.9 in (32–48 mm). The wings and body are milky white, and the number of black dots on the forewings varies a lot, from almost none to many. The antennae are black.

Look-alikes

Images coming soon

Buff ermineSpilosoma lutea

The buff ermine's forewings are yellowish to whitish buff, with a diagonal row of elongated black spots running from the wingtip toward the trailing edge. The white ermine lacks that row.

Why they get mixed up · A close relative in the same genus with a similar size and dotted wings.

Fall webworm mothHyphantria cunea

The fall webworm moth has a white body and bright yellow or orange patches on its front legs. The white ermine has an orange-yellow abdomen with a row of black spots.

Why they get mixed up · This familiar North American moth is also white, and some individuals have dark spots on the wings.

Where it lives

Range

Widespread across temperate Eurasia, including Korea and Japan. It is not native to North America.

Preferred conditions

In Europe it favors open, moderately moist places, from grassland and gardens to farmland that isn't heavily treated with chemicals.

Behavior

Activity

In Central Europe adults fly mainly in May and June, with a small second generation only rarely.

Overwintering

In Europe it spends the winter as a pupa among plant debris.

Life cycle

Larva

The caterpillar is covered in long, dark brown hair, with an orange stripe down its back. In Europe it eats many kinds of low-growing plants, including stinging nettle, docks, and dandelion.

Connected species

Close relatives

• Virginian tiger mothSpilosoma virginica

  A white member of the same genus that lives across North America — the closest stand-in Americans can see; its caterpillar is the yellow woolly bear, unlike the dark brown white ermine caterpillar.