Syntomeida epilais

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Panorpida
Cladus: Amphiesmenoptera
Ordo: Lepidoptera
Subordo: Glossata
Cladus: Coelolepida
Cladus: Myoglossata
Cladus: Neolepidoptera
Infraordo: Heteroneura
Cladus: Eulepidoptera
Cladus: Ditrysia
Cladus: Apoditrysia
Cladus: Obtectomera
Cladus: Macroheterocera
Superfamilia: Noctuoidea

Familia: Erebidae
Subfamilia: Arctiinae
Tribus: Arctiini
Subtribus: Euchromiina
Genus: Syntomeida
Species: Syntomeida epilais

Syntomeida epilais, the polka-dot wasp moth or oleander moth, is a species of moth thought to be native to the Caribbean.[1] Its larvae feed on the oleander plant. Like most wasp moths, these are day fliers.[2]

They prefer Neotropic areas, to which they are native. The North American subspecies is S. epilais jucundissima, which is locally common in all areas of Florida, and has been seen as far north as South Carolina,[2] and west to Mississippi and Texas.[3]

Description

They are dark metallic blue with white polka-dots on the wings and upper abdomen, and the tip of the abdomen is bright red. This mimicry makes it look like a dangerous wasp, while in fact being a harmless moth. The caterpillars are orange or dark orange with long black hairs making the caterpillars look dangerous, but the setae do not inflict any harm.[1][2]
S. epilais jucundissima in Savannah, Georgia
Reproduction and breeding

Females contact male polka-dot wasp moths by means of ultrasonic signals. On the branch, the sound travels, and then the male follows the sound to his new mate. When he reaches her, he emits an answering signal.[4] After mating, the females find a plant on which to lay their eggs. Groups of from 12 to 75 eggs are laid on the undersides of the oleander leaves.[4] The spherical eggs are pale cream to light yellow in color; each is less than 1 mm in diameter.[4]
As a pest
Larva

The larvae stage of the polka-dot wasp moth, commonly called the oleander caterpillar, is widely known for its gluttonous appetite. The caterpillar feeds in almost any location (excepting California) where its food, the oleander plant, can be found. They are gregarious and can cause damage from minor to severe. It may also feed on devil's potato plants, which are believed to be its native food before the oleander plant was introduced to the Americas by Spanish settlers in the seventeenth century.[1] They also feed on desert rose plants.[5]
Subspecies

Syntomeida epilais epilais
Syntomeida epilais jucundissima Dyar, 1907 (Florida, Georgia)

See also

Oleander
Euchromiini
Empyreuma pugione, spotted oleandar caterpillar moth

References

Vandaveer, Chelsie (October 8, 2003). "What is the polka-dot wasp moth? - Renfield's Garden". Renfield's Garden Archive. © 2001 - 2009 C. Vandaveer & Killerplants.com. pp. 1 of 5. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
"Species Detail". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Butterflies and Moths of North America. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
Chin-Lee, Alan (December 5, 2017). "Species Syntomeida epilais - Oleander Moth - Hodges#8284". BugGuide. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
McAuslane, Heather (September 2016). "Featured Creatures: oleander caterpillar". University of Florida. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
"Oleander caterpillar (Syntomeida epilais)" (PDF). UF/IFAS. August 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2018.