#bella moth

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Moths!!

For (very late) be kind to a bug day (July 14th) I’m going to be drawing a bunch of critters! Please request bugs using my Ask Me Anything box - Any arthropod is accepted:D

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Moth Of The Day #173

Ornate Bella Moth / Rattlebox Moth

Utetheisa ornatrix

From the erebidae family. They have a wingspan of 33-46 mm. It is found all throughout Northern, Central and Southern America.

Image sources: [1] [2]

[libraryofmoths]

Moth of the Week

Ornate Bella Moth

Utetheisa ornatrix

This moth was first described as Phalaena ornatrix and Phalaena bella by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. In 1960, it became known as the Utetheisa ornatrix by William Trowbridge Merrifield Forbes. It’s also called the ornate bella moth, ornate moth, bella moth or rattlebox moth and is in the family Erebidae.

Description The body is white with black spots on the back of the thorax and head. The legs are black and white and antennae are black and filiform. The hindwings are a pale or bright pink with an irregular black border. The forewings are orangish-yellow with white bands surrounding black dots. Patterns may vary. These colors are used to warn predators of the moth’s toxicity.

Wingspan range: 33 - 46 mm (1.3 - 1.8 in)

Diet and Habitat The larva feed on plants of the Crotalaria species such as Avon Park rattlebox, rabbitbells, smooth rattlebox, and showy rattlebox. These plants provide the larva and adults with alkaloid compounds which are the unpalatable to predators. They accumulate these toxins from the seed pods of these plants, however if the larva can’t eat a seed pod due to competition they will have to eat the leaves where is concentration is much lower. Larvae may prey on/eat others of its kind to maintain high levels of alkaloids. Alkaloids are also passed down from parents to eggs.

Its northern most range is from Connecticut westward to southeastern Nebraska and southward to southern New Mexico and Florida in the United States. Its southern most range is from Mexico, South America, and Central America. It’s southernmost reach is southeastern Brazil. This species is more common in tropical parts of this range due to host plant populations.

Mating This species demonstrates a form of sexual selection. The females choose a male to mate with based on the intensity of their pheromones. During mating, the females receive a “spermatophore” from the males containing sperm, nutrients, and alkaloid compounds. After mating, the females choose which males’ sperm fertilizes the eggs. Usually, the female chooses the male with the most alkaloids which tends to be the larger males. Adult males invest up to 11% of their body mass to create a spermatophore they provide to a female during mating. The nutrients given in the spermatophore allow the female to produce an average of 32 additional eggs in her brood.

Females mate an average of 4-5 times and up to 13 times, each with a different male. In the north there there two generations per year with more in the south.

Predators The larva and adults keep predators at bay with alkaloid compounds accumulated during feeding and inherited from parents. These toxins make them unpalatable to their main predators: spiders and bats. Specifically, the adult moth secretes an alkaloid foam from its head when threatened. However, larva and moths with low concentrations are more susceptible to predation than those with higher concentrations who are usually released and unharmed after being caught.

These toxins do not work against some predators like loggerhead shrikes.

Unlike other moths of the Arctiidae subfamily, this species moth does not have a way to audibly communicate their toxic which would help it to avoid bats altogether.

Fun Fact This species was first described on 1758 by Carl Linnaeus as two different species: Phalaena ornatrix was used to describe the paler moth specimens, and Phalanea bella, described the bright pink moth specimens. It was then moved to the genus Utetheisa in 1819 by Hübner. After nearly a century of struggling to identify this species and its subspecies, Forbes combined both species Utetheisa ornatrix and Utetheisa bella into one in 1960: Utetheisa ornatrix.

(Source: Wikipedia; The Island Packet; Institution of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida)

[feral-babe]

The Four of Galls can evoke both positive and negative interpretations. On one hand, it signifies achievement and material prosperity, indicating successful attainment of goals and accumulation of wealth. However, there is a risk of becoming overly focused on material possessions, valuing things solely for their monetary worth. While it's natural to desire things after hard work, this mindset may lead to possessiveness or greed as one strives to safeguard their wealth from perceived threats. It suggests a firm grasp on resources, be they financial, material, or emotional, often stemming from a fear of loss or change.

There is a striking parallel in the bella moth's relationship with their host plant, rattlepods. The larvae feed on these plants, which contain alkaloids that are toxic to most animals. The moths have developed a unique ability to sequester these compounds, making them unpalatable to potential predators. This dynamic bears a resemblance to human tendencies, particularly in our relationship with material wealth. Similar to how the moth clings to the plant's toxins for protection, individuals can find themselves tightly grasping onto material possessions as a shield against life's uncertainties. In both cases, there's a reliance on a singular resource for a sense of safety. However, this dependence on a solitary source carries inherent risks. Just as the rattlepods may vanish or dwindle in availability, leaving the moth vulnerable, our fixation on material wealth can prove precarious. Unforeseen circumstances can swiftly erode the illusion of security built upon material possessions.

The essence of this card speaks volumes about the dangers of clinging too tightly to what we possess. Excessive attachment, while providing a sense of safety in the short term, can ultimately lead to stagnation and rigidity. This card implores us to assess the things we cling to—whether they be material possessions, relationships, or emotional defenses—and question if they serve our highest good or act as shackles, preventing us from stepping into our full potential.

Prints available on Redbubble and Inprnt

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Bella moth (Utetheisa ornatrix)

11/09/22, Central Florida.

[moth-a-day]

Bella moth

Img credit: inaturalist.org

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[missingpaintbrushes]

Bella Moth

Acrylic