DISTRIBUTION:

Hyperchiria sanjuensis (wingspan: males: 60mm; females: mm / forewing length: males: 27-30mm; females: mm) flies in
Nicaragua: State: Rio San Juan: Sarapiqui piste helicopteres, collected by P. Schmit, 2006-09-22;
Nicaragua: Rio San Juan: Bartola, El Castillo, 2006-09-18.
This species has been taken at low elevations of 40-200m.

This species is slightly smaller, on average, as compared to H. azteca, and it has an overall lighter appearance compared to azteca. The forewing cell marking is relatively large, and the yellowish area in the post median and submarginal region is larger than in azteca.

The forewing submarginal line in sanjuensis is vestigal, whereas in azteca it is more apparent.

Hyperchiria sanjuensis male, Bartola, Rio San Juan, Nicaragua,
courtesy of Maxime Pastore, id by Bill Oehlke.

Please note: The advent of DNA barcoding has resulted in many new descriptions (several new species, 2010; even more 2011-2013). In many cases the "new" species are quite similar to existing species. Do not be surprised if even more refined testing or revisions of thresholds of difference result in some synonymies or even more species/subspecies. Subsequent rearing may or may not indicate differences in larval appearance. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Hyperchiria sanjuensis male, Bartola, Rio San Juan, Nicaragua,
courtesy of Olivier DIGOIT-BIOS, via Jean-Michael Maes, June, id by Bill Oehlke

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been reported taken in June and August-September. There are probably additional flight months.

Hyperchiria sanjuensis larvae probably eat Berberis lauina, Cassia corymbosa, Celtis spinosa, Fagus, Ficus benjamina, Laburnum, Platanus orientalis, Quercus, Quercus ilex and Serjania.

Visit the Hyperchiria nausica Group to see a comparison plate covering the eleven species listed by Brechlin and Meister, 2013, as belonging to the Hyperchiria nausica Group, which has species where the iris of the hindwing ocellus is orange.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use well-developed antennae to seek out females which scent at night.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Typical of species in the Genus Hyperchiria and the Subfamily Hemileucinae, the larvae are armed with urticating spines.

Larval Food Plants

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

Berberis lauina Cassia corymbosa ....... Celtis spinosa Fagus Ficus benjamina Laburnum Platanus orientalis Quercus Quercus ilex Serjania

Barberry Autumn senna Hackberry Beech Benjamin tree Bean tree Oriental sycamore Oak Holly/Holm oak Serjania

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