Scientific name Utetheisa Order Butterflies and moths | Rank Genus | |
Similar Bella moth, Arctiinae, Butterflies and moths, Insect, Utetheisa lotrix | ||
Moth prachtbeer utetheisa pulchella crimson speckled flunkey
Utetheisa pulchella crimson speckled moth
Description
Palpi porrect, extending beyond the frons. Antennae ciliated. Fore wings long and narrow, where the outer margin short and somewhat erect. Vein 3 from before angle of cell. Veins 4 and 5 from angle, vein 6 from upper angle and vein 7 to 10 from a short areole. Hind wing with vein 5 from above angle of cell. Vein 6 and 7 from upper angle and vein 8 from middle of cell.
Caterpillars of many Utetheisa species feed on Crotalaria (rattlebox), and hence the genus as a whole is often called rattlebox moths. The adults usually have bright aposematic coloration and contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are used as a chemical defense and are also incorporated into the sex pheromones of the males.
Taxonomy
The members of its subgenera Pitasila, Atasca, and Raanya were formerly included in Nyctemera. Utetheisa is placed in the tribe Callimorphina or in the Nyctemerina; some treatments merge the two subtribes.
Utetheisa is monophyletic.
Selected species
Species of Utetheisa include:
Subgenus Utetheisa
Subgenus Atasca
Subgenus Raanya
Subgenus Pitasila
