DISTRIBUTION: The Hylesia hubbelli moth (wingspan: males: 48-52mm; females: 65mm) flies in Mexico: Chiapas; Guatemala: Baja Verapaz, Zacapa; Honduras: Cortes, Olancho and Francisco Morazan (possibly latigra); Nicaragua: Jinotega. (possibly latigra) Hylesia hubbelli?? male (Mexico) courtesy of Dr. Manuel A. Balcazar Lara; possibly latigra??, due to oblong ocellus on the hindwing.

Note the punctiform discal spot of the forewing. This marking quickly distinguishes H. hubbelli from subaurea, lineata and iola.

In 2016, Brechlin and Meister designated the subgenus (Linylesia) to include the following species in the hubbelli subgroup: hubbelli, latigra (new, 2016, from Francisco Morazan, Honduras) and guiyasotana (new, 2016, from Ocotopeque, Honduras). All have the small black dot in both the forewing and hindwing cell. In the same publication they depict hubbelli from Cortes, Honduras. Lemaire indicates the holotype male of hubbelli as being from Chiapas, Mexico.

I would not be surprised if the more recently described species in the hubbelli subgroup can also be found outside of Honduras. (Bill Oehlke)

Hylesia hubbelli?? male, Nicaragua, courtesy of Jean-Michel Maes.

Based on information in the Entomo-Satsphingia journal, Jargang 9 Heft 03(A) 06.09.2016, the specimen directly above from Nicaragua might be the recently (2016) described Hylesia (Linylesia) latigra, based on larger more oblong hw ocellus. It could also be normal variation or an aberration. This would represent a southern extension of latigra's range which is described only from Honduras thus far.

Hylesia (Linylesia) hubbelli male, Cortes, Honduras, courtesy/copyright Eduardo Marabuto.

The specimen directly above and at top of page from Cortes, Honduras, is a very good match for the ESs image of hubbelli from Cortes, Honduras.

Hylesia (Linylesia) hubbelli male, 48mm, Cortes, Honduras,
on my home copumter only.

HABITAT:

This species flies in humid forests at elevations of 1400m to 2600m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been observed in June and July. Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Hylesia (Linylesia) hubbelli female, Cortes, Honduras,
on my home computer only.

The female of has a relatively small hw ocellus compared to latigra and guiyasotana, and the fw apex is more produced than in the other species of the hubbelli subgroup.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hylesia hubbelli 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.

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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 subgenus name, Linylesia, is a combination of lineata (type species) and Hylesia (genus).

The species name is honourific for P. Hubbell.

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