Pichincha, Ecuador

Quito, the capital of Ecuador is located in Pichincha Province at about 2,800 m. above sea level, on two flanks of the Pichincha Volcano, lying in the midst of the Andean landscape.

Some of the high altitude species of the eastern slopes can be found in eastern Pichincha province, but the majority of species are those found at high elevations on the western slopes and those from medium to lower altitudes in the the western regions of the province.

Although Quito is located on the equator, it is not blistering hot all year around. Quito has an unusual climate with quite a few months of intermittent rain and is very cool in the evenings – mostly due to its high elevation.

Cities and towns at lower altitudes have muggier, warmer weather.

Paradirphia geneforti male, Tumbaco, Pichincha, Ecuador,
reared on oak, courtesy of Uwe Kauz.

Pichincha Checklist

The following table indicates the Saturniidae species that I anticipate are in Pichincha. Those species followed by (CL) are confirmed by Claude Lemaire. Those species followed by (HK) are not listed by (CL), but they are confirmed by Horst Kach. In some cases species are confirmed by both Claude Lemaire and Horst Kach. Some species followed by my initials (WO), are not confirmed, but I anticipate their presence in Pichincha Province. Those species followed by a questionmark are doubtful. I have added some species confirmed by Luigi Racheli (LR).

Rhodirphia carminata male, Los Bancos (Pichincha) Ecuador,
November 24, 2006, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Oxytenidae Asth. b. buckleyi HK Asth. terminalis HK Oxyt. albilunulata HK Oxytenis naemia HK Oxyt. modestia HK Oxytenis epiphaea HK Arsenurinae A. a. archianassa CL A. batesii arcaei CL Dysdaem. boreas CL T. t. nobilis CL R. h. colombiana CL Cop. s. andensis CL Grammo. lineata CL

Attacinae R. e. nigrescens CL R. l. lebeau HK R. o. equatorialis CL R. aricia aricia CL Saturniinae Copaxa decrescens LR Copaxa rufinans CL C. multifenes. CL C. orientalis CL Copaxa medea CL Copaxa simson HK

Ceratocampinae Ad. boisduvalii CL Adelon. jason CL Bathyph. rufescens CL Citheronia aroa HK Cith. bellavista CL Cith. equatorialis CL Cith. phoronea CL Cith...des collaris CL E. i. anchicayensis CL E. m. tyrannus CL E. o. niepelti CL Eacles penelope CL Rachesa breteuili LR Syss. molina CL Syss. q. occlusa CL

Hemileucinae A-ina. auletes CL A-ris. exigua CL A-ris. metzli CL A. postalbida CL A-ris. phrynon WO A-ris. hamata CL A-ris. niepelti LR A-ris. jucunda CL A-ris.fieldi CL A. ba. argentifera CL A. abdominalis CL A. be. zaruma CL Aut. zugana CL/HK A. v. pichinche. CL/HK A. grammodes CL A. caucensis CL Cero. candida CL/HK

Hemileucinae Dir. abhorca CL Dir. subhorca CL/HK Dirphio. flora CL Gam. abasia CL Gam. pyrrhomelas CL Gamelio. kattyae Hyl. aeneides CL Hyl. bouvereti CL Hyl. colombex CL H. c. colombiana CL Leuc. lynx CL Lono. columbiana CL Lonomia peggyae Mol. nibasa CL Par. geneforti HK/UK Pseudaut. irene CL Pseudaut. antioq. CL Pseudod. herbuloti CL Pseudod. regia CL Rho. carminata CL

Rothschildia lebeau lebeau female, Santa Domingo de los Colorados,
courtesy of Steve Ife.