Heliotrope Moth (Utetheisa pulchelloides)

Alice Springs Desert Park

ASDP InsectsAmegilla chlorocyanea Bee Banksia Moth – Caterpillar Bee Fly (Australiphthiria sp) Bee Fly (Ligyra cingulata) Braunsapis sp Bush Cockroach (Ellipsidion humarale) Caper White Butterfly Chequered Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus ssp sthenelus) Crusader Bug (Mictis profana) Day Flying Moth Exoneurella eremophila Bee Ground Shield Bug Heliotrope Moth (Utetheisa pulchelloides) Katydid (Taeniomenae) Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Mating Lasioglossum (Homalictus) Opisthopsis sp Potter Wasp Processionary Caterpillar Snout Beetle (Lixus) Torymus Chalcid Wasp Transverse Ladybird

Alice Springs Desert ParkFauna Flora Nature Theatre Nocturnal House

The Heliotrope Moth (Utetheisa pulchelloides) is also known as the Salt and Pepper Moth. Often seen flying around during the feeding on flowers.

A colourful moth with front wings that are red, brown and black dots on white background. We found this moth flying around in Alice Springs, during the Central Australia summer.

It is found across the Indo-Australian region including Borneo, Hong Kong, China, New Zealand, Papua, Seychelles, most of Australia and Tenerife. The adult moth has an extensive migratory flight ranges, reaching some of the most remote oceanic islands, such as Henderson Island and Ducie Island. With its vast range, it is not surprising that there are a number of sub-species.²

The caterpillar of this moth, has sparse grey hairs, are black with orange spots and broken cream lines along the body. They feed on Heliotrope Heliotropium europaeum and Echium plantagineum.

One of the identifying features of Utetheisa pulchelloides is that the forewing is white with five interrupted scarlet bands with a series of black spots between them, along the hind margin of the fore wings and the tornus. There are however, some variation when identifying U. pulchelloides.