Xanthopastis regnatrix

Last updated

Xanthopastis regnatrix
Xanthopastis regnatrix.jpg
Xanthopastis regnatrix larva.jpg
Adult (top), and larva (lower)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Xanthopastis
Species:
X. regnatrix
Binomial name
Xanthopastis regnatrix
(Grote, 1863) [1]
Synonyms
  • Philochrysa regnatrixGrote, [1864]

Xanthopastis regnatrix, the Spanish moth or convict caterpillar, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It occurs in the United States, where it is found from North Carolina to Texas and south to Florida. Strays have been recorded as far north as coastal New York, and inland as far north as Kentucky. [2]

Contents

Taxonomy

The species known as Xanthopastis timais is now recognized as a species complex. The name for the species in eastern United States is Xanthopastis regnatrix (Type locality: Pennsylvania). This species name was used for the species by Kimball (1965), Wagner (2005) and Wagner et al. (in press). [3]

Description

It is characterized by the black patch of scales on the forewing that completely surround the reniform and orbicular spots, the relatively small process on the inner surface of the right valve.

Related Research Articles

<i>Yucca</i> Genus of flowering plants belonging to the agave and Joshua tree subfamily

Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the Americas and the Caribbean in a wide range of habitats, from humid rainforest and wet subtropical ecosystems to the hot and dry (arid) deserts and savanna.

<i>Lymantria dispar</i> Species of moth

Lymantria dispar, also known as the gypsy moth or the spongy moth, is an Eurasian species of moth in the family Erebidae. Lymantria dispar is subdivided into several subspecies, with subspecies such as L. d. dispar and L. d. japonica being clearly identifiable without ambiguity. Lymantria dispar has been introduced to several continents and is now found in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and South America. The polyphagous larvae live on a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees and can cause severe damage in years of mass reproduction. Due to these features, Lymantria dispar is listed among the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guava</span> Tropical fruit

Guava is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava Psidium guajava is a small tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. The name guava is also given to some other species in the genus Psidium such as strawberry guava and to the pineapple guava, Feijoa sellowiana. In 2019, 55 million tonnes of guavas were produced worldwide, led by India with 45% of the total. Botanically, guavas are berries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noctuidae</span> Type of moths commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms

The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other families of the Noctuoidea. It was considered the largest family in Lepidoptera for a long time, but after regrouping Lymantriinae, Catocalinae and Calpinae within the family Erebidae, the latter holds this title now. Currently, Noctuidae is the second largest family in Noctuoidea, with about 1,089 genera and 11,772 species. This classification is still contingent, as more changes continue to appear between Noctuidae and Erebidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern parula</span> Species of bird

The northern parula is a small New World warbler. It breeds in eastern North America from southern Canada to Florida.

<i>Yucca filamentosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Yucca filamentosa, Adam's needle and thread, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae native to the southeastern United States. Growing to 3 metres tall, it is an evergreen shrub valued in horticulture.

<i>Automeris io</i> Species of moth

Automeris io, the Io moth or peacock moth, is a colorful North American moth in the family Saturniidae. The Io moth is also a member of the subfamily Hemileucinae. The name Io comes from Greek mythology in which Io was a mortal lover of Zeus. The Io moth ranges from the southeast corner of Manitoba and in the southern extremes of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada, and in the US it is found from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, east of those states and down to the southern end of Florida. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminole bat</span> Species of bat

The Seminole bat is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae.

<i>Acronicta oblinita</i> Species of moth

Acronicta oblinita, the smeared dagger moth or arioch dagger, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. Its larva, the smartweed caterpillar, has urticating hairs. The species was first described by James Edward Smith in 1797.

<i>Melanchroia</i> Genus of moths

Melanchroia is a genus of moths in the family of diurnal neotropical moths, Geometridae, and subfamily Ennominae. The genus was proposed by Jacob Hübner in 1819. Its species can be found from the southeastern United States to Argentina.

<i>Schinia sordida</i> Species of moth

Schinia sordida, the sordid flower moth or dingy schinia, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by John B. Smith in 1883. It is found in the United States from North Carolina to central Florida west to Kansas and Texas. It has also been recorded from Alabama.

<i>Drasteria graphica</i> Species of moth

Drasteria graphica, the graphic moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. It is found in the United States in coastal dunes from Maine to Florida, west to Mississippi. It is also found along the shores of the Great Lakes in Michigan and Wisconsin. Subspecies D. g. atlantica is listed as threatened in Connecticut.

<i>Tetanolita floridana</i> Species of moth

Tetanolita floridana, the Florida owlet or Florida tetanolita moth, is a litter moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by J. B. Smith in 1895. It is found in the United States from Wisconsin to Long Island, south to Florida and Texas.

<i>Hypena humuli</i> Species of moth

Hypena humuli, the hop looper or hop vine moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. It is found from coast to coast in Canada south in the east to Florida and Arkansas in the west to California. It is apparently absent from the south-central states. In Canada it is only absent from Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and the far north.

<i>Prunus angustifolia</i> Species of tree

Prunus angustifolia, known commonly as Chickasaw plum, Cherokee plum, Florida sand plum, sandhill plum, or sand plum, is a North American species of plum-bearing tree. It was originally cultivated by Native Americans before the arrival of Europeans. The species' name angustifolia refers to its narrow leaves. It became the official state fruit of Kansas in 2022.

<i>Xanthopastis timais</i> Species of moth

Xanthopastis timais is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout the lowland areas of South and Central America and in the Caribbean. In the south, it ranges to northern Argentina. It was previously also recorded from North America, but these records refer to Xanthopastis regnatrix.

Xanthopastis moctezuma is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found from Mexico north to Brownsville, Texas, but appears to be replaced by Xanthopastis regnatrix elsewhere in Texas.

<i>Spodoptera dolichos</i> Species of moth

Spodoptera dolichos, the dolichos armyworm moth or sweetpotato armyworm moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. It is found from the southern United States, south through Costa Rica to South America, as far south as Argentina. In the United States, it may occur as far north as Kentucky and Maryland.

<i>Arugisa lutea</i> Species of moth

Arugisa lutea, the common arugisa moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by John B. Smith in 1900. It is found in the United States, where it has been recorded from Maryland and Virginia to Florida, west to Texas and Missouri.

<i>Anaea</i> (butterfly) Genus of butterflies

Anaea are a genus of charaxine butterflies in the brush-footed butterfly family Nymphalidae. The butterflies are commonly known as leafwings. Members of the genus are found throughout the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean.

References

  1. Xanthopastis at funet
  2. "Spanish moth". Featured creatures. University of Florida. June 2002. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  3. Lafontaine, J. D.; Schmidt, B. C. (24 November 2011). "Additions and corrections to the check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico". ZooKeys (149): 145–161. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.149.1805 . PMC   3234417 . PMID   22207802.