Kingdom Animalia Family Noctuidae Scientific name Xanthopastis timais Rank Species | Class Insecta Genus Xanthopastis Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | |
 | ||
Similar Butterflies and moths, Xanthopastis, Idalus, Gonodonta, Diphthera festiva | ||
The Spanish Moth or Convict Caterpillar (Xanthopastis timais) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found throughout the lowland areas of South and Central America and in the Caribbean. In the south, it ranges to northern Argentina. It was previously also recorded from North America, but these records refer to Xanthopastis regnatrix.
The wingspan is 39–45 mm. Adults have rosy-pink and black forewings, spotted with orange along the wing veins. The hindwings are gray. In Florida, adults are on wing from January to early June and again from September to December.
The larvae feed on Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae and Liliaceae species, including Amaryllis, Clivia, Cooperia, Eucharis, Haemanthus, Hippeastrum, Hymenocallis, Narcissus, Pancratium, Polianthes, Zephyranthes, Iris, Crinum, Leucojum and Lilium species. They feed gregariously on leaves, bulbs and rhizomes of the host plants.
