Utetheisa


Utetheisa is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae. The genus was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1819.

Description

Palpi porrect, extending beyond the frons. Antennae ciliated. Forewings long and narrow, where the outer margin is short and somewhat erect. Vein 3 from before angle of cell. Veins 4 and 5 from angle, vein 6 from upper angle and vein 7 to 10 from a short areole. Hindwing with vein 5 from above angle of cell. Vein 6 and 7 from upper angle and vein 8 from middle of cell.
Caterpillars of many Utetheisa species feed on Crotalaria, and hence the genus as a whole is often called rattlebox moths. The adults usually have bright aposematic coloration and contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are used as a chemical defense and are also incorporated into the sex pheromones of the males.

Taxonomy

The members of its subgenera Pitasila, Atasca, and Raanya were formerly included in Nyctemera. Utetheisa is placed in the tribe Callimorphina or in the Nyctemerina; some treatments merge the two subtribes.
Utetheisa is monophyletic.

Selected species

Species of Utetheisa include:
Subgenus UtetheisaUtetheisa amhara Jordan, 1939Utetheisa antennata Swinhoe, 1893Utetheisa clareae Robinson, 1971Utetheisa connerorum Roque-Albelo & Landry, 2009Utetheisa cruentata Utetheisa devriesi Hayes, 1975Utetheisa diva Utetheisa elata
Subgenus AtascaUtetheisa aegrotum Utetheisa albilinea De Vos, 2007Utetheisa amboina De Vos, 2007Utetheisa amosa Utetheisa ampatica De Vos, 2007Utetheisa aruensis De Vos, 2007Utetheisa bouruana Utetheisa ceramensis De Vos, 2007Utetheisa externa Utetheisa frosti Utetheisa pellex Utetheisa separata Utetheisa watubela De Vos, 2007
Subgenus RaanyaUtetheisa albipuncta
Subgenus PitasilaUtetheisa assamica De Vos, 2007Utetheisa abraxoides Utetheisa balinensis De Vos, 2007Utetheisa disrupta