Powered by
TranslateUtetheisa pulchella
Utetheisa pulchella, (Linnaeus 1758)
Family: Erebidae
Utetheisa is a genus of “Tiger Moth”
Wingspan: 29 to 42mm
Season: Late March to November.
This species flies during the day and night and is attracted by artificial light.
Widespread, mainly found south of Europe; especially around the Mediterranean coastal areas. The rise of tourism in the coastal areas has significantly affected the population of this species. Also, found in North Africa, the Canaries, Madeira and into the tropics and sub-tropical regions. A very rare migrant as far north in Europe to the United Kingdom.
Habitat: Warm, dry, open places, meadows, scrubland, parks, urban gardens and grasslands.
In Southern Europe up to three generations a year are achieved, in the tropics generations are continuous.
The species in southern Europe overwinters as a caterpillar with pupation taking place on the ground near the host plants. Amongst the decaying vegetation of fallen leaves and the bark of rotting wood.
The caterpillars are of warty appearance, coloured dark brown or greyish, with tufts of greyish hairs and each segment having an orange crossline, also the have a wide whitish line along the spine and two other lateral white lines.
The caterpillars consume alkaloids to a large extent, hence the warning colours on the adult moths’ wings serve as a warning sign to birds; that they are poisonous. Occasionally Utetheisa pulchella is referred to being a pest, to crop plantations.
The polyphagous (meaning they can feed on a wide variety of plants) larvae feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants, mainly on forget-me-not (Myosotis), Solanum and Plantago lanceolata, just to mention a few.
Read MoreFamily: Erebidae
Utetheisa is a genus of “Tiger Moth”
Wingspan: 29 to 42mm
Season: Late March to November.
This species flies during the day and night and is attracted by artificial light.
Widespread, mainly found south of Europe; especially around the Mediterranean coastal areas. The rise of tourism in the coastal areas has significantly affected the population of this species. Also, found in North Africa, the Canaries, Madeira and into the tropics and sub-tropical regions. A very rare migrant as far north in Europe to the United Kingdom.
Habitat: Warm, dry, open places, meadows, scrubland, parks, urban gardens and grasslands.
In Southern Europe up to three generations a year are achieved, in the tropics generations are continuous.
The species in southern Europe overwinters as a caterpillar with pupation taking place on the ground near the host plants. Amongst the decaying vegetation of fallen leaves and the bark of rotting wood.
The caterpillars are of warty appearance, coloured dark brown or greyish, with tufts of greyish hairs and each segment having an orange crossline, also the have a wide whitish line along the spine and two other lateral white lines.
The caterpillars consume alkaloids to a large extent, hence the warning colours on the adult moths’ wings serve as a warning sign to birds; that they are poisonous. Occasionally Utetheisa pulchella is referred to being a pest, to crop plantations.
The polyphagous (meaning they can feed on a wide variety of plants) larvae feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants, mainly on forget-me-not (Myosotis), Solanum and Plantago lanceolata, just to mention a few.
