Need help identifying black with white specks moth [photo]

[Roger C. KENDRICK]

Hi Ken,

Going on the illustration in Holland's "The Moth Book" (Dover edition,
1968) you have seen the Polka-dot Wasp-moth _Syntomeida epilais Walker_
..  The scientific nomenclature may be out of date, but I'd guess an
American specialist (or someone with a more uptodate book) could brief
you on that.

The larval hostplant is given as Nerium odorum.
The adults would be likely to feed on nectar, but species in this family
(Syntomidae) will also take mineral salts (especially males) and water
to prevent dessication.



> Ken Whedbee wrote:

> Hi -
>
> I'm trying to identify a black moth with white specs and the tip of
> his abdomen is red.  The pictures of him were taken in Rockledge,
> Florida, which is located just south of the Kennedy Space Center on
> the East coast.
>
> I am particularly interested in what the adult and larval foods are.
>
> I have included two photos at:
>
> http://ddi.digital.net/~whedbee/moth.html

Hope this helps,

Roger.
________________________________________________
Roger C. KENDRICK   B.Sc.(Hons.)
PhD student & Demonstrator, Dept of Ecology & Biodiversity
The University of Hong Kong
mailto:kendrick at hkusua.hku.hk
http://web.hku.hk/~kendrick/hkmoth.htm   + Hong Kong Moths ;
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/1085/   + H.K. Lepidoptera
Group ;
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