HYLESIA OF THE WORLD

Hylesia lineata Druce, 1886. Photo by Leroy Simon.

HYLESIA HUBNER, [1820]

The Hylesia are members of the Hemileucini tribe, subfamily Hemileucinae, Family Saturniidae. These moths fly in Central and South America. Occasional strays have been reported as far north as Arizona.

Females deposit eggs in rings, clusters (egg balls) or layers and larvae are highly gregarious and well equipped with hollow, irritant-filled (urticating) spines.

Larvae and adult moths may be dangerous to humans.

Hylesia dalina larva courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Some species make a silken nest where many larvae hide during the day, venturing out to feed at night.

Mature larvae spin simple cocoons, but sometimes (Hylesia acuta) they are also spun up as an aggregate mass inside the silken nest. (Kirby Wolfe)

"Several species of moths are known to cause dermatitis and aggravate respiratory problems. We've all heard about caterpillars with urticating hairs and such, but adult moths of several genera can cause problems as well. Female moths of several species in the genus Hylesia are known to have barbed spines or "flechettes" on their abdomen. Coelomatic cavity glands produce poisonous secretions which cover these spines. The barbs are constantly shed, and can produce irritation lasting from 6 to 8 days. If they are inhaled, they can cause respiratory injuries, resulting in pharyngeal pain, coughing, and sneezing. When the female moths lay their egg clusters, the flechettes shed onto the the "nest" act as a defense. Outbreaks of "lepidopterism" caused by this genus are known from French Guiana, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico." from http://www.herper.com/Unusual3.html

Listing of Hylesia

P acuta Druce, 1886 Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua
petena Schaus, 1927, Guatemala, is a synonym for acuta
P aeneides (Druce, 1897) Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
P alticola Lemaire, 1988 Bolivia
N anchises Lemaire, 1988 Colombia
P andensis Lemaire, 1988 Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela
N andrei Dognin, 1916 north central Venezuela
N angulex Draudt, 1929 Peru, Ecuador, Brazil
P annulata Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica, Panama ?, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam ?, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador
ochrifex Dyar, 1913, Peru, is a synonym for annulata
scalex Draudt, 1929, Bolivia, is a synonym for annulata
N approximans (Walker, 1855) Brazil
N ascodex Dyar, 1913 Peru, Venezuela
P athlia Dyar, 1913 Peru, Ecuador, French Guiana
N beneluzi Lemaire, 1988 Costa Rica
P bertrandi Lemaire, 1982 Panama, Costa Rica
N biolleya Schaus, 1927 Costa Rica
P bouvereti Dognin, 1889 Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia
P canitia (Cramer, 1780) Surinam, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil
oroyex f. amazonica Draudt, 1929, is a synonym for canitia
P caucanex Draudt, 1929 Colombia, Venezuela synonym of coex
N cedomnibus Dyar, 1913 Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam, French Guiana, ? Guyana
P coex Dyar, 1913 Venezuela, Colombia; ?? Costa Rica
caucanex Draudt, 1929, Colombia, is a synonym for coex
P coinopus Dyar, 1913 Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico
P colimatifex Dyar, 1926 Mexico
dognini Bouvier, 1930, Mexico, is a synonym for colimatifex
P colombex Dognin, 1923 Colombia, Ecuador
P composita Dognin, 1912, Venezuela
P continua continua (Walker, 1865) Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras
chirex Schaus, 1921, Guatemala, is a synonym for continua continua
euphemia Dyar, 1913, Mexico, is a synonym for continua continua
rosex Bouvier, 1930, Mexico, is a synonym for continua continua
P continua alinda Druce, 1886 Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
P continua colombiana Dognin, 1922 Colombia, Ecuador
alinda f. pernex Draudt, 1929, Colombia, is a synonym for continua colombiana
P cottica Schaus, 1932 Surinam, French Guiana, Venezuela, Ecuador
N cressida Dyar, 1913 Mexico
P <dalifex Dognin, 1916 Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador is the same as dalina
P dalina Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia
dalifex Dognin, 1916, Colombia, is a synonym for dalina
schausi Dyar, 1913, Venezuela, is a synonym for dalina
P daryae Decaëns, Bonilla & Wolfe, 2003 eastern Colombia
N discifex Draudt, 1929 Brazil, Peru, Bolivia
N dyarex Schaus, 1921 Guatemala
P ebalus (Cramer, 1775) Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay
bolivex Dognin, 1922, Bolivia, is a synonym for ebalus
ernestonis Strand, 1920, Bolivia, is same as ebalus
lilex Dognin, 1923, Brazil, is a synonym for ebalus
macellex Draudt, 1929, Brazil, is a synonym for ebalus
margarita Dognin, 1901, Colombia, is same as ebalus
minasia Schaus, 1921, Brazil, is a synonym for ebalus
polyploca Draudt, 1929, Brazil, is a synonym for ebalus
purpurex Bouvier, 1923, Paraguay, is a synonym for ebalus
wagneri Bouvier, 1923, Brazil, is a synonym for ebalus
P egrex Draudt, 1929 Bolivia, Peru
violacea Bouvier, 1930, Peru, is a synonym for egrex
P euphemia Dyar, 1913 Mexico, this is same moth as continua continua
P extremex Naumann, Brosch, & Wenczel, 2005 Peru
P falcifera (Hubner, [1825]) Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia
P fallaciosa Lemaire, 2002 Eastern Venezuela
P frederici Lemaire, 1993 French Guiana
P frigida Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, ? Belize
vittex Draudt, 1929, Guatemala, is a synonym for frigida
P gamelioides Michener, 1952 Mexico, Honduras
P gigantex gigantex Draudt, 1929 western Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, ? Panama
P gigantex orbana Schaus, 1932 Surinam, French Guiana, Venezuela, eastern Ecuador, Peru
P gyrex Dyar, 1913 Guyana, French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil
novex Dognin, 1922, Brazil, is same as H. gyrex
P hamata Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, western Ecuador
P haxairei Lemaire, 1988 French Guiana, Venezuela, Brazil
P hawksi Lemaire, Wolfe & Monzón S., 2001 Guatemala
P hubbelli Lemaire, 1982 Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
N humilis Dognin, 1923 Brazil
P ileana Schaus, 1932 Mexico, El Salvador
P index Dyar,1913 eastern Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia
P indurata Dyar, 1910 French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, eastern Peru, Brazil: Para, Amazonas.
lilacina Dognin, 1912, French Guiana, is a synonym for indurata
P inficita (Walker, 1865) Brazil
P invidiosa Dyar, 1914 Panama, Costa Rica
P iola Dyar, 1913 Mexico
omeva Dyar, 1916, Mexico, is a synonym for iola
N leilex Dyar, 1913 Peru, Ecuador
multiplex Dognin, 1916, Peru, is a synonym for leilex
peruvex Draudt, 1929, Peru, is a synonym for leilex
P lilex Dognin, 1923 Brazil, is same moth as H. ebalus
P lineata Druce, 1886, Costa Rica, Mexico to Panama
Automeris funebris Conte, 1906, Honduras, is a synonym for lineata
Automeris ondulatus Conte, 1906, Costa Rica, is a synonym for lineata
P liturex Dyar, 1913 French Guiana, is same as H. rex
P margarita Dognin, 1901 Colombia, is same as H. ebalus
N maurex Draudt, 1929 southeastern Brazil
N medifex Dognin, 1916 Colombia
N melanops Lemaire, 2002 Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
P melanostigma (Herrich-Schäffer, [1855]) Brazil, French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia (probably Surinam and Guyana)
vespex Dognin, 1923, Brazil, is same as H. melanostigma
f. propex Draudt, 1929, Colombia, is same as H. melanostigma
P metabus (Cramer, 1775) Surinam, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil
caripitox Orfila, 1951, Venezuela, is a synonym for metabus
grisoli Bouvier, 1923, Venezuela, is a synonym for metabus
obsoleta (Cramer, 1780), Surinam, is a synonym for metabus
boarmia Hubner, [1820], is a replacement name for obsoleta, Surinam
urticans Floch & Abonnenc, 1944, French Guiana, is a synonym for metabus
P metapyrrha (Walker, 1855) Brazil, Paraguay
corevia Schaus, 1900, Brazil, is a synonym for metapyrrha
P minasia Schaus, 1921 Brazil, is a synonym for H. ebalus
mixtiplex Dognin, 1919 Peru, is a synonym for leilex
N moronensis Lemaire, 1976 Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
P mortifex Dyar, 1913 northern, coastal Venezuela
lolamex Dyar, 1913, Venezuela, is a synonym for mortifex
N munonia Schaus, 1927 Brazil
P murex Dyar, 1913 Surinam, Trinidad, Venezuela, French Guiana, Brazil; ?? Guyana
mystica Dyar, 1913, Trinidad, is a synonym for murex
P mymex Dyar, 1913 Colombia, Costa Rica
P nanus (Walker, 1855) Brazil, Ecuador to Peru
Hyperchiria myops (Walker, 1855), Brazil, is a synonym for nanus
N natex Draudt, 1929 Brazil, Peru
P nigricans (Berg, 1875) northeastern Argentina, southeastern Brazil, Uruguay
Micrattacus fulviventris Berg, 1883, Argentina, is a synonym for nigricans
N nigridorsata Dognin, 1912 Peru
murmur Dyar, 1913, Peru, is a synonym for nigridorsata
P nigripes Draudt, 1929, Colombia, Peru
N oblonga Lemaire, 2002 southeastern Brazil
N obtusa Dognin, 1913 Brazil
P olivenca Schaus, 1927 Brazil, Ecuador to French Guiana
N oratex Dyar, 1913, Brazil
N orbifex Dyar, 1913, Brazil
P oroyex Dognin, 1922, Peru
N pachobex Dognin, 1920 Colombia, is a synonym for medifex
N palcazua Schaus, 1927 Peru, is same moth as H. umbrata
P pallidex Dognin, 1923 Uruguay, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil
coarya Schaus, 1932, Brazil, is a synonym for pallidex
gracilex Dognin, 1923, Brazil, is a synonym for pallidex
N paraguayensis Lemaire, 2002 Paraguay
N paulex Dognin, 1922 Brazil
P pauper Dyar, 1913 Peru
N peigleri Lemaire, 2002 western Mexico
P penai Lemaire, 1988 Bolivia
N pearsoni Lemaire, 2002 southeastern Brazil
P polyploca Draudt, 1929 Brazil, is a synonym for H. ebalus
P praeda praeda Dognin, 1901 Ecuador, French Guiana
rubiprocta Bouvier, 1930, Colombia, is a synonym for praeda praeda
P praeda nigra Lemaire, 2002 Bolivia
P pseudomoronensis Camargo, 2007 central Brazil
P remex Dyar, 1913 Brazil
livex Dyar, 1913, Brazil, is a synonym for remex
P rex Dyar, 1913 French Guiana, Venezuela, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, probably Guyana
discutex Draudt, 1929, Brazil, is a synonym for rex
liturex Dyar, 1913, French Guiana, is a synonym for rex
molpex Dyar, 1913, French Guiana, is a synonym for rex
N roseata Dognin, 1914 Colombia
P rosacea rosacea Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica
P <rubrifons rubrifons Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica
rubrifons multiplex Dyar, 1913, Costa Rica, is a synonym for rubrifons rubrifons
N rubrifons muzoensis Draudt, 1929 Colombia
P rufex Draudt, 1929 Brazil
P rufipes Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica
N santaelensis Lemaire, 1988 Venezuela
P scalex Draudt, 1929 Bolivia, is the same as H. annulata
P schausi Dyar, 1913 Venezuela, same moth as H. dalina
P schuessleri Strand, 1934, ?, is a replacement name for rufex Bouvier, 1930; p. o.
P scortina Draudt, 1929, Brazil, Paraguay
N sorana Schaus, 1927 Brazil; same as oratex
P subaurea Schaus, 1900 Mexico, Nicaragua
coadjutor Dyar, 1907, Mexico, is a synonym for subaurea
N subcana (Walker, 1855) Brazil
P subcottica Lemaire, 2002 French Guiana, Ven., Ecu., Per., Bra. Arg
N subfasciata Dognin, 1916 Peru
N tapabex Dyar, 1913 Venezuela
P tapareba Dyar, 1913 Guyana, French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil
derica Schaus, 1940, Guyana, is a synonym for tapareba
P teratex Draudt, 1929, Surinam
N terranea Schaus, 1906 Brazil
P terrosex Dognin, 1916 Ecuador
pluto Dognin, 1922, Bolivia, is a synonym for terrosex
P thaumex Draudt, 1929 Colombia, French Guiana, Suriname (RSL); probably Venezuela; Guyana
P tinturex Schaus, 1921 Guatemala, Mexico
croex Schaus, 1921, Guatemala, is a synonym for tinturex
N tiphys Dognin, 1916 Brazil
N travassosi Lemaire, 1988 Brazil
P umbrata Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, French Guiana
darlingi Dyar, 1914, Panama, is a synonym for umbrata
darlingi f. tendex Draudt, 1929, Brazil, is a synonym for umbrata
darlingi f. guayanensis Draudt, 1929, Surinam, is a synonym for umbrata
latex Draudt, 1929, Venezuela, is a synonym for umbrata
lilacinex Draudt, 1929, Ecuador, is a synonym for umbrata
palcazua Schaus, 1927, Peru, is a synonym for umbrata
pollex Dyar, 1913, Venezuela, is a synonym for umbrata
valvex Dyar, 1913, French Guiana, is a synonym for umbrata
P umbratula Dyar, 1915 Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, ? Honduras, ? Ecuador
P valvex Dyar, 1913 French Guiana, is same moth as H. umbrata
P vassali Lemaire, 1988 French Guiana
P venezuelensis Lemaire, 2002 Venezuela
P vialactea Draudt, 1929, Bolivia
P vindex Dyar, 1913 Brazil
erebus Bouvier, 1930, Brazil, is a synonym for vindex
solvex Dyar, 1913, Brazil, is a synonym for vindex
P violacea Bouvier, 1930 Peru, is same as egrex
N violex Draudt, 1929 Brazil, is a synonym for munonia
P vittex Draudt, 1929 Guatemala, is same moth as frigida
P wagneri Bouvier, 1923 Brazil, is a synonym for H. ebalus
N wiebex Bouvier, 1923 Surinam
P zonex Draudt, 1929, Colombia

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