DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia (Gamylesia) alejandroi (wingspan: males: 61mm ; females: // forewing length: males; females ) flies in
in Honduras: Olancho: N. P. de la Muralla.

I do not know if the male is consistently dark or if the image at the top of the page is an aberration. I have a number of males from NP de la Muralla, Olancho, Honduras that are posted on the H. (G.) gamelioides page that are browner and not nearly as dark as the specimens in the Entomo-Satsphingia journal that are listed as alejandroi.

The male of H. (G.) alejandroi has a hindwing whose median field is almost entirely dark black. The female is grey to dark grey, not nearly as dark as the male on the hindwing. The body also seems darker than in gamelioides.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been collected in September. There are probably additional flight months. Larval hosts are unknown.

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

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) alejandroi female, PN de la Muralla, Olancho, Honduras,
on my home computer only, significant digital reoair to forewing median area,
by Bill Oehlke, may no longer be accurate.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hylesia (G.) alejandroi larvae are probably highly gregarious and probably 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, alejandroi, is honourific for Rafael Alejandro Vargas.

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