Other Common Names
Uncle Sam Moth per Wagner (2005)
Explanation of Names
"fidel" is Latin for Faithful
Numbers
There are three species of Composia, but only C. fidelissima occurs in the U.S.
Identification
Distinctive day-flying moth found in South Florida.
Range
South Florida, West Indies
Habitat
Tropical hardwood thickets (hammocks)
Food
Adults take nectar, larval hosts:
Devil's Potato - Echites umbellata - Apocynaceae
Oleander - Nerium oleander - Apocynaceae
Leafless Swallowwart - Cynanchum scoparium - Apocynaceae
Baybean - Canavalia rosea - Fabaceae
Life Cycle
Larvae feed on a variety of plants, including Bay Bean (Canavalia rosea).
Print References
Covell, p. 59, plate 11 #7
(1)
Holland, W.J. 1903. The Moth Book. Doubleday, Page & Co., New York. 479 pp.
Kimball, C.P. 1965. The Lepidoptera of Florida; an annotated checklist. Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas, Vol. 1. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. v + 363 pp.
Wagner, D.L. 2005. Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 496 pp., 1,200+ color photos.
Contributed by
Cotinis on 2 August, 2004 - 8:55pm
Additional contributions by
anitagould,
Mike QuinnLast updated 28 March, 2007 - 11:06pm
