Heliotrope Moth

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Heliotrope Moth - Glenn Rudolph/DEPI | Heliotrope Moth - Glenn Rudolph/DEPI

Utetheisa pulchelloides

This moth appears white when flying but at rest, a pattern of red and black spots is visible on the forewings. The wingspan of the adult moth is 3 cm. The hindwing is white with 2 black spots and an irregular black margin. Caterpillars are black with orange spots with broken cream lines and sparse grey hairs.

Details
Type
Invertebrate
Group
Animals
Insect - Moth
Other Common Names
Salt and Pepper Moth
Biology

The female lays a row of pale green eggs on a leaf from a food plant.
Distinctive Markings

A pattern of red and black spots is visible on the forewings when the moth is at rest.
Taxonomy
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Arctiidae
Genus
Utetheisa
Species
pulchelloides
Distributed widely throughout the Indo-Australian region including Borneo, Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua and Seychelles. In Australia it is found in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Norfolk Island and Cocos Keeling Islands.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

The larvae contain poisonous alkaloids that deter predators from eating them.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Herbivore. Caterpillars eat various plants from the Boraginaceae family, including Salvation Jane, Heliotrope and Forget-me-not.
Habitat

The adult does not venture far from the host plant.
Native Status
Native to Australia