Utetheisa

Taxobox
name = "Utetheisa"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = Crimson-speckled Flunkey, "Utetheisa pulchella"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Arctiidae
subfamilia = Arctiinae
genus = "Utetheisa"
genus_authority = Hübner, 1819
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = Several, see text

Utetheisa is a genus of arctiid moths. Caterpillars feed on "Crotalaria" (rattlebox), and hence the moth genus is often called rattlebox moths. Species of this "Utetheisa" are usually bright and colorful.

Species include:
* "Utetheisa lotrix"
* Bella moth or Ornate moth, "Utetheisa ornatrix" (Linnaeus, 1758)
* Crimson-speckled Flunkey, "Utetheisa pulchella" (Linnaeus, 1758)
* "Utetheisa pulchelloides"

External links

* [http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/May99/ornatrix_tricks.hrs.html Male moth's sperm package includes 'life assurance policy,' Cornell biologists learn] Cornell University News

Additional Information

1)A spectacular species, but unfortunately only a sporadic migrant to this country with around 100 records in the last century.

The species occurs naturally in the Mediterranean and North Africa, and most immigrants are presumed to have originated there. Moths may turn up at any time during the summer or autumn, but most records are from the southern counties or offshore islands.

Wild larvae have not been encountered in Britain, but abroad they feed on a range of herbaceous plants.

2)An adult was spotted in the outskirts of Bangalore, India recently (Sep 2007)