Subject: Caterpillar on Amaryllid plants
Geographic location of the bug: northern Argentine Patagonia
Date: 09/02/2017
Time: 02:19 PM EDT
We have found this caterpillar several times feeding on Rhodophiala leaves in northern Argentine Patagonia (Neuquen Province). Caterpillar image taken in spring (December). Any idea what species?
How you want your letter signed: Martin
Dear Martin,
Thank you for providing a name for the plant upon which this caterpillar was feeding. We quickly located this FlickR posting of a very similar looking, though drabber version of your caterpillar identified as Xanthopastis timais. Then we searched that name and found images on our sister site from Brazil, Insetologia. Finally, we found the species represented on BugGuide where the proper scientific name Xanthopastis regnatrix is provided and it is called a Convict Caterpillar, the larva of the Spanish Moth and the information “common in Florida; rare elsewhere in United States” is provided.
Many thanks for your prompt id.
This must be the southernmost record for this species.
Martin