Composia fidelissima

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Composia fidelissima
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Erebidae
Subfamily: Arctiinae
Genus: Composia
Species:
C. fidelissima
Binomial name
Composia fidelissima
Synonyms
  • Phaloesia olympia Butler, 1871
  • Composia vagrans Bates, 1933

Composia fidelissima the faithful beauty or Uncle Sam moth is a moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich-Schäffer in 1866. It is found in southern Florida and the West Indies, including Cuba.[1]

The wingspan is 48–64 mm. Adults are on wing year round. They are day flying.[2]

The larvae feed on Cynanchum scoparium, Canavalia (including Canavalia rosea), Nerium (including Nerium oleander) and Echites species (including Echites umbellatus).

Subspecies[edit]

  • Composia fidelissima fidelissima
  • Composia fidelissima vagrans Bates, 1933

References[edit]

  1. ^ Becker, Vitor O. (2002). "The Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cuba described by Herrich-Schäffer and Gundlach in the Gundlach Collection, Havana" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 19 (2): 349–391. doi:10.1590/S0101-81752002000200006. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  2. ^ Cotinis (November 30, 2016). "Species Composia fidelissima - Faithful Beauty - Hodges#8038". BugGuide. Retrieved December 2, 2018.