The bella moth, Utetheisa ornatrix, is one of our most beautiful moths. Unlike most moths, which are nocturnal, the bella moth is diurnal and flies readily when disturbed. Therefore, it is more commonly seen than nocturnal species.
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The adult bella moth is highly variable in coloration which has resulted in confusion regarding its taxonomy and the assignment of many names to the numerous color forms. Linnaeus originally described two species in the genus Phalaena -- ornatrix (more whitish or pale specimens) and bella (brightly colored specimens), and Hübner later moved them to the genus Utetheisa. Forbes lumped both forms under the species U. ornatrix. The Entomological Society of America's Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms publication uses the common name "bella moth," but uses the scientific name Utetheisa bella (Linnaeus) instead of U. ornatrix (Linnaeus).
SEARCH THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S DATA BASE via this link
The moth is plentiful this fall. Every time I water I inadvertently splash a number of these guys. They are small, with a wingspan of 3-4 cm (1.2-1.5 inches). They are plentiful because we have a bumper crop of Rattlebox (Crotalaria spp.). The Rattlebox and the bella moth's biology are intricately intertwined. The bella moth is one of the few insects that have evolved to use the Rattlebox as host due to the plants extreme toxicity (the plant is laced with pyrrolizidine alkaloids). The moths sequester these poisonous chemicals and thus become poisonous to predators.
The phenomenon of two organisms biologically interacting where each individual derives a fitness benefit (increased reproductive output), is referred to as "Mutualism," in Biology.
Read more about how the moths convert these poisons and use them to their advantage at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Entomology and Nematology.
Adult bellas live only about three weeks. They are considered beneficial insects as they ingest the poisonous seeds of the Rattlebox that would otherwise potentially poison cattle, livestock, or pets.
Read more about how Rattlebox came to Florida HERE.
The species we have cultivated is Crotalaria spectabilis Roth which is an invasive weed, native to Asia.
Below: My Rattlebox have grown to 9' (3 meters) tall and become spindly so I've been trimming them back for weeks. I'm saving some seed for next year's crop but not allowing them to spread. I found the first specimen on a walk in the woods some years back. On a recent drive in west Central Florida I noticed a lot of Rattlebox in the fields that have gone fallow.
Florida Governor Scott is Busy Trying to Get Trump Elected While Florida's Waterways Become Sewer-Like
Photo: Cristobal Herrera/European Pressphoto Agency
Miles of Algae
and a Multitude of Hazards
and a Multitude of Hazards
The stench from decaying algae began rising from coastal waterways in southeastern Florida early this month, shutting down businesses and beaches during a critical tourism season. Officials arrived, surveyed the toxic muck and declared states of emergency in four counties, then took off for Cleveland for the Republican National Convention.
Photo: Rhonda Wise/Agence France-Press/Getty Images
Photo: Greg Lovett/The Palm Beach Post/AP
Florida Governor Rick Scott doesn't believe in global warming or climate change anymore than does Donald Trump or Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and why should they care? They don't live amongst the dead fish and dying waterways of southeast Florida, and their reelection campaigns are largely funded by Big Sugar which polluted Lake Okeechobee and caused the algae bloom in the first place.
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Can't Miss:
with #AskTheGays Hashtag
Gays' Response to Donald Trump
(above and below)
Oh No, He Didn't
Can it be Accidental?
The Donald stuck with boring typography for his new logo.
Boring, if it didn't look like his gigantic 'T' was energetically penetrating Pence's little 'P'
Even CNN is calling it "off color"
others suggested that it looked like what Pence and Trump
would do to America if they somehow won
others suggested that it looked like what Pence and Trump
would do to America if they somehow won