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Moths of Zihuatanejo

ORDER LEPIDOPTERA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

-Owlet Moths and Allies (Superfamily Noctuoidea)

-Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths (Family Erebidae)

-Tiger Moths and Allies (Subfamily Arctiinae)

-Tiger Moths (Tribe Arctiini)

-Subtribe Phaegopterina

-Genus Ammalo

-Ammalo helops


The adults are mostly active at night, like many moths in the Erebidae family, and are often attracted to artificial lights. Ammalo helops is commonly found in Central and South America, where it inhabits tropical and subtropical forests. Its range may extend to areas with warm, humid climates, as these environments support the plants needed for its development.

Ammalo helops

Ammalo helops

Description

  • Ammalo helops is a medium-sized tiger moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae. Adults have a stout, hairy body and broad wings with a striking pattern of pale yellowish to orange-brown and dark brown or black markings. The wingspan is generally around 30–40 mm, although size and colouration can vary.

Range

  • Ammalo helops occurs in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, with its range extending through Mexico and Central America into northern South America. It occurs along Mexico's Pacific coast, including Zihuatanejo, Guerrero.

Habitat

  • It inhabits tropical and seasonally dry forests, woodland, scrub, forest edges, clearings, and disturbed vegetation. Adults are nocturnal and may be attracted to lights, while the hairy larvae develop on low vegetation.

Diet

  • The caterpillars are herbivorous and feed on the leaves of a variety of plants, including herbaceous vegetation. Adults primarily consume liquid foods such as nectar and other plant fluids.

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