Wasp-moth
Guides
Lymire edwardsii
Edwards' Wasp Moth, rubber tree caterpillar
Lymire edwardsii is a moth in the family Erebidae (subfamily Arctiinae) described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881. The species is known for its caterpillars, which feed on Ficus species and frequently cause extensive injury to these trees, earning the common name 'rubber tree caterpillar.' Adults have a wingspan of 35–40 mm with bluish-gray wings and are active year-round in southern Florida.
Syntomeida ipomoeae
Yellow-banded Wasp Moth, Orange-banded Wasp Moth
Syntomeida ipomoeae is a wasp-mimicking moth in the subfamily Arctiinae, described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839. The species exhibits aposematic coloration and is known for its diurnal activity pattern, unusual among moths. Its common names derive from the distinctive yellow or orange banding on the body. The species has a restricted distribution in the southeastern United States.