Utetheisa pulchella
{{short description|Species of moth}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Crimson-speckled flunkey
| image = Arctiidae - Utetheisa pulchella.JPG
| image_caption =
| taxon = Utetheisa pulchella
| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) [https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id54859/ BioLib]
| synonyms_ref = [http://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Utetheisa_Pulchella Lepiforum e. V.] {{in lang|de}}
| synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true
|Tinea pulchella Linnaeus, 1758
|Deiopeia pulchra
|Utetheisa callima dilutior Rothschild, 1910
|Utetheisa kallima C. Swinhoe, 1907
|Utetheisa pulchella completa Weymer, 1908
|Lithosia amabilis Trost, 1801
|Deiopeia pulchella var. candida Butler, 1877
|Noctua pulchra Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
|Utetheisa thytea Rothschild, 1914
|Deiopeia thyter Butler, 1877
|Utetheisa shyama Bhattacherjee & Gupta, 1969
|Utetheisa shiba Bhattacherjee & Gupta, 1969
|Utetheisa menoni Bhattacherjee & Gupta, 1969
}}}}
Utetheisa pulchella, the crimson-speckled flunkey, crimson-speckled footman, or crimson-speckled moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Subspecies
Subspecies include:{{cite web |editor-last=Savela |editor-first=Markku |url=https://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/arctiidae/arctiinae/utetheisa/#pulchella |title=Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758) |website=Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms |access-date=24 August 2019}}
- Utetheisa pulchella antennata (C. Swinhoe, 1893) (Nicobars)
- Utetheisa pulchella completa Weymer, 1908
- Utetheisa pulchella dilutior Rothschild, 1910 (Angola, Congo)
- Utetheisa pulchella kallima C. Swinhoe, 1907 (Angola)
- Utetheisa pulchella pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758)
File:Utetheisa pulchella dilutior.JPG|Utetheisa pulchella diluitor
File:Utetheisa pulchella kallima.JPG|Utetheisa pulchella kallima
Distribution and habitat
This common widespread species can be found in most of Europe (as a migrant), in the entire Afrotropical realm, North Africa, in the Near East and Central Asia, in the western Indomalayan realm (not known east of Myanmar.)Jordan, K. (1939). "On the constancy and variability of the differences between the old world species of Utetheisa (Lepid., Arctiidae)". Novitates Zoologicae. 41: 251-291.{{Cite web |url=https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/8bba8217-2468-4526-a3cc-ed385ee7b04d |title=Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758) |website=Fauna Europaea |access-date=11 December 2020}} In the United Kingdom it is only a sporadic migrant. These moths inhabit dry open places, meadows, shrublands, grasslands and parks.
Description
File: Arctiidae - Utetheisa pulchella-002.jpg
The wingspan of Utetheisa pulchella can reach 29–42 mm.{{cite web |last=Kimber |first=Ian |url=https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/utetheisa-pulchella |title=72.034 BF2054 Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758) |website=UKMoths |access-date=24 August 2019}} The front wings are narrow, white or cream coloured with a variable pattern of numerous small black spots located between the larger-sized bright red spots. Sometimes the red spots are merged to transversal bands. The hindwings are wide, white, with an irregular black border along the outer edge and two black markings in the middle of the cell.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vlindernet.nl/vlindersoort.php?vlinderid=487&q=utetheisa+pulchella|title=Prachtbeer Utetheisa pulchella |website=De Vlinderstichtin |language=nl|access-date=24 August 2019}} The head and thorax range from cream colour to buff yellow, with the same pattern as the wings. The antennae are long and monofiliform. The abdomen is smooth, with a white background.
Caterpillars are warty, dark brown or greyish, with tufts of greyish hairs, an orange crossline on each segment, a wide whitish line along the back and two other lateral white lines.
Biology
This species in southern Europe overwinters as a caterpillar. Pupation occurs on the ground near the host plants, usually on fallen leaves and dead vegetation, or pieces of bark and old wood. During mild winters in temperate and typically Mediterranean climates this species hibernates as pupae. Adults of this multivoltine species usually are present from March to early November in three generations a year, but in the tropics, they develop continuously. They fly both day and night and come to light. The polyphagous larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants, mainly on forget-me-not (Myosotis), Echium, Borago officinalis, Solanum, Plantago lanceolata and Anchusa species.Mazzei, Paolo; Morel, Daniel & Panfili, Raniero. [http://www.leps.it/indexjs.htm?SpeciesPages/UtethPulch.htm "Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758)"]. Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa. In the Afrotropical realm they mainly feed on Trichodesma zeylanicum, Lithospermum, Heliotropium, Trichodesma and Gossypium species.{{cite web |last1=De Prins |first1=J. |last2=De Prins |first2=W. |name-list-style=amp |date=2019 |url=http://www.afromoths.net/species_by_code/UTETPULC |title=Utetheisa pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758) |website=Afromoths |access-date=24 August 2019}}
Due to their food, the caterpillars accumulate a large amount of alkaloids, consequently also the moths are toxic and unpalatable to birds. The characteristic colouration of its wings serve as a sign of warning to their predators (aposematism).
Gallery
File:Utetheisa pulchella couple.jpg|Mating pairs
File:Crimson-speckled Flunkey Caterpillar (16415143595).jpg|Caterpillar
File: Arctiidae - Utetheisa pulchella-001.JPG|Feeding on Hedera flowers
File:Utetheisa pulchella1.jpg|Mounted specimen
Bibliography
- Porter, Jim. The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles.
- Philips, Roger & Carter, David. Kosmos Atlas Schmetterlingsführer, Europäische Tag und Nachtfalter. Franckh-Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 1991, {{ISBN|3-440-06306-2}}.
- Scoble, Malcolm J. (1995, London). The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity. Oxford University Press/Natural History Museum of London.
- Waring, Townsend and Lewington. Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://uahost.uantwerpen.be/vve/checklists/lepidoptera/Arctiidae/Upulchella.htm Lepidoptera of Belgium]
- [http://www.wildlifeinsight.com/crimson-speckled-moth-utetheisa-pulchella/ Wildlife Insight]
{{Taxonbar |from=Q218449}}
Category:Moths described in 1758