Chrysaeglia magnifica
This tiger moth ranges from India to Taiwan and Sulawesi, and the isolated Taiwan population is classified as its own subspecies, first described in 1910.
| Where | Tropical and subtropical forest canopy |
|---|---|
| Size | About 51 mm wingspan |
| When | January to December |
A brightly coloured lichen moth: the body is clothed in orange-yellow hair, the forewings are orange-yellow with a large blue-black patch at the base and another across the middle, and the wing markings carry a metallic sheen; the hindwings are plain yellow. The extent of the dark forewing patterning varies and is the main character used to tell the species from its relatives.
Three subspecies are recognised across its scattered range, including a form restricted to Taiwan and another confined to Sulawesi, a pattern that points to a long history of isolated island populations.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Orange, Black, Metallic
Active
Night
To people
Not documented to sting, bite or irritate; rarely encountered outside forest habitats.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Has an orange head and collar, a black thorax with a green sheen, and white spotted black forewings, unlike the variable blue black forewing pattern of this species.
Questions
Is Chrysaeglia magnifica dangerous to people?
Not documented to sting, bite or irritate; rarely encountered outside forest habitats.
When can you see Chrysaeglia magnifica?
Chrysaeglia magnifica can be seen from January to December, at night.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Erebid moths›Chrysaeglia
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.