Eudesmia menea

The combination of yellow wings with specific black markings—two round shoulder spots and two elongated tip spots on the forewings, plus the broad black marginal band on the hindwings that crosses onto the forewings—is diagnostic. The filiform (threadlike) black antennae distinguish it from butterflies, which have clubbed antennae. The smooth wing margins and identical coloration on both surfaces separate it from similar tiger moths with scalloped wings or different underwing patterns.

Medium-sized moth with wingspan of approximately 50 mm. Forewings yellow with two round black spots at the shoulders and two elongated black spots at the tips. Hindwings yellow with a broad black border running from the abdominal corners around the outer margins, crossing onto the forewings and ending at the anterior edges. Antennae filiform and black. Head, thorax, and abdomen yellow above. Palpi, tongue, and legs black. Wing margins entire (smooth, not scalloped). Coloration identical on both upper and lower wing surfaces.

Tropical and subtropical lowland areas, including open woodlands, forest edges, and scrub vegetation. Associated with regions supporting its larval host plants.

Neotropical and Nearctic regions. Native range extends from Brazil and Colombia through Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras) to the southern United States (southern Texas to Florida).

Adults are diurnal (day-flying), an unusual trait among moths that facilitates pollination of flowers. The bold yellow and black coloration suggests aposematic (warning) display, though specific chemical defenses have not been documented.

Adult moths likely function as pollinators due to their diurnal activity and flower-visiting behavior. Larval ecology remains undocumented.

Frequently photographed and documented by naturalists due to its conspicuous daytime activity and striking appearance. Not known to be an agricultural pest.

• Other Eudesmia speciesShare yellow and black coloration but differ in specific spot patterns and marginal band configuration; E. menea is distinguished by the two round shoulder spots and the particular crossing of the hindwing border onto the forewings
• Diurnal butterflies (e.g., Heliconius, Ithomiinae)Similar aposematic yellow and black patterns and shared daytime activity, but distinguished by clubbed antennae (butterflies) versus filiform antennae (moths), and by wing venation differences

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life