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Heliotrope Moth
Utetheisa pulchelloides
15.4557, 119.92
Field Notes
Description:
This solitary Heliotrope Moth was spotted in a rice field. I was happy to see it, but it is a little too early in the season (see Notes) and might not survive long enough to find a mate. I can usually take reasonable dorsal pictures and side views of this kind of moth, but I was lucky with the second photo which gives a bit of a ventral view.
Habitat:
This Heliotrope Moth was spotted in a rice field, as mentioned in Notes. It is unusually early, as the heavy rains have not yet arrived, and the "Elephant Trunks" and "Cat's Tails" are not yet showing (please see Notes).
Notes:
This Heliotrope Moth was spotted in a rice field which, because we do not keep livestock, our neighbours are allowed to use for grazing their water buffaloes and goats in the dry season. As soon as the rains start, (we had some showers in the last two days) the animals are returned to their own pastures. This is an annual routine for us and I mention it because it is relevant to the presence of Heliotrope Moths on the farm. In mid-July, the rice fields are ploughed planted. So, that leaves us a period of around eight weeks (mid-May to mid-July) when there are no farming activities in the rice fields. As soon as the rainy season gets underway, the rice fields erupt with all manner of wild flowers, the most dominant of which is Heliotropium indicum, locally known as Trompang Elepante or Ikoi-pusa (Elephant's Trunk or Cat's Tail). This plant appears to be an important host plant for Utetheisa pulchelloides.
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