Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class: Insecta (Insects)
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
No Taxon: (Moths)
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae (Tiger and Lichen Moths)
Tribe: Arctiini (Tiger Moths)
Subtribe: Callimorphina
Genus: Utetheisa
Species: ornatrix (Rattlebox Moth - Hodges#8105-06)
Other Common Names:
Bella Moth
Ornate Moth
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes:
Utetheisa ornatrix and Utetheisa bella were formerly considered separate species, now lumped together under U. ornatrix.
Size: wingspan 30-45 mm, larvae to 35 mm
Identification:
Adult: forewing variably pink or yellow with rows of white-ringed black spots in widespread bella subspecies, more whitish with sparse black spots and a washed out look in ornatrix subspecies (S. FL & S. TX).
hindwing pink with uneven black border
Larva: orangish-brown with broad irregular black bands on each segment, and distinct white spots on anterior and posterior margins of black bands
Range:
mostly Eastern North America: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Arizona, north to Minnesota and Ontario
also occurs south through Central America to northern South America.
Habitat:
Fields, edges of forests; adults fly during the day
Food:
Larvae feed predominantly on legumes in the genus Crotalaria, commonly called Rattlebox; occasional hosts included bush-clover (Lespedeza spp.), elm, cherry, fireweed, lupine, Sweetgale (Myrica gale)
Life Cycle:
Larvae feed on plants of the genus Crotalaria (family Fabaceae) which contain poisonous pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and are able to store the chemicals systemically, retaining them through metamorphosis into the adult stage. At mating, the male transfers a substantial fraction of his alkaloidal load to the female with the sperm package (spermatophore). The gift is transmitted by the female in part to the eggs, together with a supplement of her own alkaloidal supply. All developmental stages of Utetheisa are protected by the alkaloid, the larvae and adults against spiders, and the eggs are avoided by ants and coccinellid beetles. The spermatophore is of substantial size, amounting on average to over 10% of male body mass. It also contains nutrient, which the female invests in egg production. Females mate on average with four to five males over their lifespan of 3 to 4 weeks.
Remarks:
The mostly pink or yellow "bella" form is common and widespread, whereas the paler "ornatrix" form is restricted to southern Florida and southern Texas
For more INFO: (Utetheisa ornatrix)
About this shot:
-ISO 64, White Balance set to "Sunny".
-Custom settings (-1 saturation & +1 sharp)
-Macro mode (Auto focus)
-2.5X Optical zoom
Make: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
Model: SP565UZ
Software: GIMP 2.4.3
Exposure Time: 10/8000 sec
F-Stop: f/3.5
ISO Speed Ratings: 64
Focal Length: 977/100 mm
Date Taken: 2010-06-27 10:03
Metering Mode: Spot
Light Source: Fine weather
Flash: Flash did not fire
File Size: 234 kb
