Crimson speckled footman

Description

Utetheisa pulchella,common name crimson-speckled flunkey or crimson-speckled moth,is a moth of the family Erebidae.The wingspan of Utetheisa pulchella can reach 29–42 mm.The front wings are narrow,white or cream colored with a variable pattern of numerous small black spots located between the larger-sized bright red spots.Sometimes the red spots are merged to transversal bands.The hindwings are wide,white,with an irregular black border along the outer edge and two black markings in the middle of the cell.The head and thorax range from cream color to buff yellow,with the same pattern as the wings.The antennae are long and monofiliform.The abdomen is smooth,with a white background.Caterpillars are warty,dark brown or grayish,with tufts of grayish hairs,an orange cross-line on each segment,a wide whitish line along the back and two other lateral white lines.