### Identification At first glance, the Lined Tiger Moth (*Spilosoma lineata*) is a study in minimalist elegance. With a wingspan of 35–45mm, its forewings are a creamy, parchment-white, strikingly "etched" with fine, dark brown longitudinal lines that follow the wing veins. This pinstripe effect is its most diagnostic field mark. To distinguish it from the similar *S. scita*, look at the abdomen: *S. lineata* sports a vibrant orange-yellow abdomen adorned with rows of black dots—a "hidden" warning signal. When at rest, it folds its wings into a neat tent, looking more like a piece of dried grass than a moth.
### Habitat & Range This species is a quintessential resident of Sub-Saharan Africa, thriving particularly in the bushveld and grassy savannas of Southern and Eastern Africa. You’ll find them from sea level up to mid-elevation montane grasslands. They are frequently drawn to the "edge effects" of human habitation, making them a common sight in suburban gardens and agricultural fringes where diverse low-growing vegetation is plentiful.
### Behaviour Strictly nocturnal, *S. lineata* is a frequent visitor to porch lights. If disturbed during the day, it employs a dramatic "play dead" tactic known as thanatosis, dropping to the leaf litter and curling its abdomen to reveal its bright orange warning colors. This signals to predators that it is chemically protected. During the breeding season, females release potent pheromones from a "scent organ" at the tip of the abdomen, calling in males from downwind with impressive precision.
### Diet The adults do not feed, living off fat reserves stored from their youth. However, the larvae are voracious generalists. These "woolly bear" caterpillars forage on a wide variety of herbaceous plants and low-lying shrubs, using their chewing mouthparts to skeletonize leaves.
### Fascinating Fact Like many tiger moths, *S. lineata* possesses "tymbals"—specialized organs used to produce ultrasonic clicks. These clicks aren't for communication; they actually jam the sonar of hunting bats, acting as a high-tech "stealth shield" that confuses the predator's aim in mid-air!