DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia tinturex (wingspan: males: 30-32mm; females: 44-45mm) flies in
Guatemala: El Peten and Izabal;
Honduras: Atlantida (CL), Francisco Morazan (RC);
Belize: Stann Creek and Cayo;
Mexico: Quintana.

Hylesia tinturex female, wingspan: 45 mm, Francisco Morazan, Honduras,
courtesy of Ronald D. Cave, id by Bill Oehlke

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been observed in January, June-August and October suggesting at least three broods annually. Larval hosts are unknown.

This species probably broods continuously on a three month cycle.

Dr. Ronald D. Cave indicates the female depicted above from Francisco Morazan, Honduras, was reared from larvae found feeding on Pinus oocarpa.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hylesia tinturex larvae are probably 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.

Pinus oocarpa .......

Ocote Pine, Pino

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