Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 1777730

Spanish Moth

Xanthopastis regnatrix

Also known as Convict Caterpillar

Adult Spanish moths sport striking rosy-pink and creamy-yellow forewings speckled with black, a vivid aposematic display warning predators of sequestered alkaloid toxins. Their larvae, known colloquially as convict caterpillars due to their bold black-and-white stripes, feed gregariously on plants in the amaryllis family and can quickly defoliate garden ornamentals. After exhausting foliage, mature caterpillars burrow into loose soil or leaf litter to pupate inside dark, silk-lined subterranean cells.

NocturnalAposematicHerbivore
Spanish Moth reference
Licensed reference(c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Spider lily foliage
  • Amaryllis foliage
  • Narcissus foliage
Predators
  • Parasitoid wasps
  • Insectivorous birds
  • Spiders
ThreatsPesticide application in gardens and severe winter freezes
HabitatsCoastal plains, gardens, pine flatwoods, subtropical wetlands
Life span8–12 days as adults; 2–3 months total life cycle
Classification
  1. OrderLepidoptera
  2. FamilyNoctuidae
  3. GenusXanthopastis
  4. SpeciesXanthopastis regnatrix
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a close distance; larvae are toxic if consumed by pets.
Responsible observation
  • Host Plant Inspection: Look along the leaf bases of amaryllis and spider lilies for tight clusters of feeding larvae.
  • Blacklight Attraction: Hang a bright UV or mercury-vapor light against a white sheet at night to observe flying adults.
Related species
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Moonlight Marvels

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