Bug FAQRoyal Poinciana Graphic
Melipotis acontioides · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Erebidae
Also called: Royal Poinciana Moth
Source: Wikipedia
The adult moth has a wingspan of roughly 43 mm. It occurs from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and into South America as far as Brazil and Argentina. Caterpillars feed at night on the leaves of royal poinciana and Parkinsonia trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan is about 43 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat the foliage of Delonix regia (royal poinciana) and Parkinsonia aculeata and Parkinsonia florida. Feeding takes place at night.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range continues through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean islands, and into Brazil, Argentina and the Galápagos.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 8 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Utah, Mississippi.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on royal poinciana and Parkinsonia tree leaves.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the Royal Poinciana Graphic moth found?
It lives in the southern US and extends through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and into South America.
Source: Wikipedia
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/Melipotis_acontioides
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.