Bug FAQOrnate Bella Moth
Utetheisa ornatrix · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Ornate Moth, Beautiful Utetheisa
The Ornate Bella Moth has a wingspan of about 33 to 46 mm (1.3 to 1.8 in). Its wings show bright pink, red, orange, yellow or white colors with black markings, including white bands with six irregular black spots and sometimes a bright pink hind wing edged in black. It lives in temperate parts of the midwestern and eastern United States, throughout Mexico, Central America and down to southeastern Brazil.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan ranging from 33 to 46 mm (1.3 to 1.8 in).
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Eggs are spherical and can be white, yellow, or sometimes brown. Full-grown larvae reach 30 to 35 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Unlike most moths, the Ornate Bella Moth is active during the day (diurnal).
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Their range extends from the southeastern United States down to South America, including southeast Brazil.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
What was once called Utetheisa bella in eastern North America is now considered the same species as Utetheisa ornatrix.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Connecticut, North Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Same family (Erebidae)
Spongy MothLymantria disparDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Webworm MothHyphantria cuneaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Brown-tail MothEuproctis chrysorrhoeaCan irritate skin
Isabella Tiger MothPyrrharctia isabella
Virginian Tiger MothSpilosoma virginicaCan irritate skin
Salt Marsh MothEstigmene acreaSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utetheisa_ornatrix
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.