About Empyreuma pugione Linnaeus, 1767
Empyreuma pugione, commonly known as the spotted oleander caterpillar moth, is a moth species belonging to the subfamily Arctiinae. This species is native to the West Indies, where specimens have been collected at elevations as high as 733 meters. It has also been intentionally or accidentally introduced to Florida, a U.S. state. The adult moth has a wingspan that ranges from 43 to 48 millimeters. Adult spotted oleander caterpillar moths are active and fly during the daytime. The larvae of this species feed on Nerium oleander. Researchers believe that before oleander was introduced to the region, the larvae most likely fed on native Caribbean plant species that belong to New World genera in the Apocynaceae family, including Thevetia, Plumeria, Mandevilla, and Tabernaemontana. The larvae of Empyreuma pugione are light orange in color and covered in hair.
