Indian lily moth caterpillar (Polytela gloriosae) - Agricultural pest

The Polytela gloriosae, or Indian lily moth, is a moth from the Noctuidae family known for being a pest of the Pink rain lily, Gloriosa superba, Crinum asiaticum, Zephyranthes grandiflora, Zephyranthes citrina, Scadoxus multiflorus, Amaryllis, Lilium species, and other plants in the Liliaceae and Amaryllidaceae families. Its caterpillars, which are black with red, orange, and white spots, are voracious defoliators and are feeding on plants like Crinum asiaticum and Gloriosa superba. Found in Sri Lanka, India, and potentially Indonesia, these Indian lily moth caterpillars are causing significant damage, especially during the monsoon season, damaging flower buds, impacting the plant's ability to bloom, leading to potential yield losses and complete defoliation of plants. They are attacking and destroying the Pink rain lily (Zephyranthes rosea) flower plants in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on July 6, 2025.