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Heliotrope Moth

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Description

Another Arctiid from the Spud Shed, and one of my mysteries solved (thanks for the tips, clusterpod)

The Heliotrope Moth, Utetheisa pulchelloides, is brightly coloured moth, active by day fluttering low over the ground like a small butterfly. The caterpillars are black with orange spots and broken cream lines along the body. Larvae contain poisonous alkaloids that deter predators from eating them

They feed on plants from Boraginaceae family including Heliotrope ( Heliotropium arborescens ), Octopus Bush ( Argusia argentea ), and Salvation Jane ( Echium plantagineum ). I wonder if it also eats Paterson's Curse.
Image size
1536x2048px 971.76 KB
Make
SAMSUNG
Model
GT-S5830
Shutter Speed
1/237 second
Aperture
F/2.6
Focal Length
3 mm
ISO Speed
50
Date Taken
Mar 18, 2013, 12:57:40 AM
Comments4
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KlausTeufel's avatar
Hmm, colourful. Is it poisonous to eat? (Not that I'm planning to eat one!)