Species Utetheisa ornatrix - Rattlebox Moth - Hodges#8105-06

8105-06

Bella Moth

Ornate Moth

Utetheisa ornatrix and Utetheisa bella were formerly considered separate species, now lumped together under U. ornatrix (See Moths of North America, below.)

Two subspecies in North America

wingspan 30-45 mm

larvae to 35 mm

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

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

Fields, edges of forests; adults fly during the day

adults fly from July to September in north; all year in south

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)

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.

[adapted from text by Vikram Iyengar]

The mostly pink or yellow "bella" form is common and widespread, whereas the paler "ornatrix" form is restricted to southern Florida and southern Texas

Covell, p. 63, plate 15 #12 (1)

live and pinned adult images of various forms by several photographers, plus images of other life stages and info on synonymy (Moth Photographers Group)

pinned adult image (CBIF)

overview including description, synonymy, food plants, biology, mating info, live images of all life stages, references (Donald Hall, Featured Creatures, U. of Florida)

pinned adult image and US distribution map of U. ornatrix, including U. bella (Paul Opler, Moths of North America, USGS)

pinned adult image (Clemson U., South Carolina)

pinned adult image of U. ornatrix (Matthew Barnes, Grenadines)

North Carolina State University Entomology Collection has 121 pinned, including specimens from that state.

Images of caterpillars

distribution in Canada list of provinces (CBIF)

classification showing U. ornatrix as the type species (Brian Pitkin, Butterflies and Moths of the World)

PNAS scientific paper on mating and chemical protection

illustrated article on mating and chemical protection (Thomas Eisner, Cornell U., New York)

female mate selection issues (Vikram Iyengar, Villanova U., Pennsylvania)

multiple mating article abstract (Craig Willis LaMunyon, Cornell U., New York)