Heliotrope Moth - Utetheisa pulchelloides
Family Aganaidae
This page contains pictures and information about Heliotrope Moths that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Body length 20mm
- This moth also known as Salt and Pepper Moth. We found this moth actively feeding on flowers during the day time on grass land. The moth was flying slowing among flowers. The moth is colourful, on its front wings there are red, brown and black dots on white background. We found this moth from early to late summer.
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- The caterpillar has sparse grey hairs, and are black with orange spots and broken cream lines along the body. They feeds on weeds Heliotrope Heliotropium europaeum and Paterson's Curse Echium plantagineum.
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- Reference:
- 1. Utetheisa pulchelloides - Australian Caterpillars by Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley, 2007.
- 2. Flying Colours, Common Caterpillars, Butterflies and Moths of South-Eastern Australia - Pat & Mike Coupar,1992, p35.
- 3. A Guide to Australian Moths - Paul Zborowski, Ted Edwards, CSIRO PUBLISHING, 2007, p182.
- 4. Moths of Victoria: part two, Tiger moths and allies Noctuoidea (A) - Peter Marriott, Entomological Society of Victoria, 2009, p28.
- 5. Moths of Australia - I. F. B. Common, Melbourne University Press, 1990, p434, pl19.15.
