Bella Moth
Utetheisa ornatrix (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Identification: Wing pattern variable but distinctive; the only moth in eastern North America with a pink and yellow forewing marked with rows of white-ringed black spots. Hindwing pink with uneven black border.
Wing Span: 3-4.4 cm.
Life History: Breeds continuously in southern United States. A conspicuous day-flier.
Flight: July and September northward.
Caterpillar Hosts: Legumes such as crotalaria, lespedeza, and lupines. Also elm trees, fireweed, Prunus species, and sweetgale.
Adult Food:
Habitat:
Range: Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Minnesota, Kansas, and Texas.
Conservation:
NCGR:
Management Needs:
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 376 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 07, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 20, 2024
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 09, 2023
Observation date: Sep 29, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Feb 02, 2017
Submitted by: anthum
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
Observation date: Dec 28, 2019
Submitted by: Tindomul1of9
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 30, 2023
Observation date: Oct 09, 2023
Submitted by: Pkleinsasser
Region: Flagler County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 12, 2023
Observation date: Sep 17, 2023
Submitted by: sgensits
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: Ssneed
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Feb 25, 2023
Submitted by: Lani57
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Feb 21, 2023
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Feb 22, 2023
Observation date: Dec 11, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Dec 11, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Dec 11, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Apr 27, 2021
Submitted by: Reach
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 31, 2023
Observation date: Jan 19, 2023
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 31, 2023
Observation date: Dec 28, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 31, 2023
Observation date: Dec 07, 2022
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Dec 14, 2022
Observation date: Nov 17, 2022
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2017
Submitted by: Phil.Delestrez
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2022
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 31, 2022
Observation date: Mar 26, 2022
Submitted by: Cheri Phillips
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 23, 2022
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