Naming
*"Utetheisa ornatrix ornatrix"⤷ "Utetheisa ornatrix bella"
⤷ "Utetheisa ornatrix saintcroixensis" Pease, 1973
Distribution
"Utetheisa ornatrix" is found from southeastern United States to South America. In the southeastern United States, its distribution ranges from Connecticut westward to southeastern Nebraska and southward to southern New Mexico and Florida. This species is found to be more common in more tropical parts of this range, in accordance to the availability of its host plant in more southern regions. It is also found throughout Mexico, South America, and Central America.
Reproduction
The eggs of the "Utetheisa ornatrix" are spherical in shape and range in colour from white to yellow to sometimes brown.The larvae are orange and brown with irregular black bands on each segment of the body. The anterior and posterior portions of the black binds are also marked with distinct white spots. Full grown larvae reach 30-35mm in length. Although most arctiid larvae have verrucae, "Utetheisa ornatrix" larvae lack these.
Food
The larvae usually feed on "Crotalaria" species, which contain poisonous alkaloid compounds that render them unpalatable to most predators. Larvae may prey on other bella moth larvae in order to compensate for any alkaloid deficiency.References:
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