Other Common Names
Convict Caterpillar (larva)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
syn. Xanthopastis timais of authors, not Cramer, [1780])
Phylogenetic sequence # 933210
Explanation of Names
Xanthopastis timais was recognized as the senior synonym of regatrix by Poole (1989) in Lepidopterum Catalogus - Noctuidae, and more recently by Lafontaine and Schmidt (2010) in their checklist of Noctuoidea of North America. However a published revision to the checklist in 2011 (citation below) updated the status of Xanthopastis in North America, removing the name X. timais for our the North American species, indicating there are at least 6 species in the genus. X. timais is restricted to South America.
Identification
Adult: hairy black body and pink forewing with black markings (forewing may be mostly white or mostly yellowish - see images under Internet References below); subterminal line composed of several yellow spots; reniform spot outlined in yellow; hindwing uniformly dark gray
Larva: vertical black and white stripes
Food
larvae feed on spider lily (Liliaceae) and amaryllis and narcissus (Amaryllidaceae); also reported on figs (Ficus spp.) in continental US; larvae have been reared on "iceberg" lettuce
Remarks
common in Florida; rare elsewhere in United States.
