DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia (Gamylesia) gamelioides (wingspan: males: 58-68mm (RL); females: 81mm // forewing length: males; females ) flies in
southeastern Mexico: Veracruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas, and
in Honduras: Cortes (RC), Olancho, probably Yoro.

Hylesia gamelioides male, La Muralla Natinal Park, Olancho, Honduras,
68mm, September 16, 1995, 1420m, courtesy of Robert Lehman, id by Bill oehlke.

HABITAT:

This species flies at moderate elevation: 1385m-1550m.

In 2015 H. (G.) alejandroi was described from Olancho, Honduras. The only images I have are from Entomo-Satsphingia journal where the male depicted has a hindwing basal median field that is almost entirely dark black. I do not know if this is a melanic specimen or an aberration of H. (G.) gamelioides or if it is a valid species. The 2016 journal treats H. (G.) alejandroi as a valid species.

Possibly some of the specimens on this page are also alejandroi, but they have faded to a lighter dark brown on the forewings and much lighter beigey-grey on the hindwings.

Hylesia gamelioides male, La Muralla Natinal Park, Olancho, Honduras,
67mm, October 13, 1995, 1420m, courtesy of Robert Lehman, id by Bill oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been collected in March-April and August-September-October, suggesting at least two broods. Larval hosts are unknown.

This species possibly broods continuously on a three-four month cycle.

Hylesia gamelioides male, La Muralla Natinal Park, Olancho, Honduras,
64mm, October 14, 1995, 1420m, courtesy of Robert Lehman, id by Bill oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen, and the males pick up and track the airbourne pheromone plume with their well-developed antennae.

Hylesia (Gamylesia) gamelioides female, Chiapas, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hylesia gameliodes larvae are highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Return to Hylesia Index

Return to Main Saturniidae Index

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

I do not know the origin of the genus name Hylesia.

The species name reflects the Gamelia-like appearance of this species.

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