DISTRIBUTION:

Molippa tusina (wingspan: males: 64-71mm; females: 74-80mm) flies in rain forests of
Costa Rica: Cartago, Puntarenas, San Jose (CL), Alajuela, Guanacaste (IB);
Colombia: Valle del Cauca and probably Nariono; and
Ecuador: Pichincha, Bolivar, Guayas and Canar; at elevations up to 1400m. I suspect it also flies in Panama.

Note lunulate postmedial and antemedial lines.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in February-Apri, July and October-December, suggesting at least three flights.

Larvae feed on Hampea appendiculata.

Molippa tusina male courtesy of Dan Janzen. Note antennae.

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:

Larvae feed gregariously and have urticating spines. Larvae are so spectacular I have included two larger images courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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.

Hampea appendiculata......

Hampea appendiculata

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