DISTRIBUTION:

The Adetomeris microphthalma moth (wingspan: males: males: 45-52mm; females: 53-57mm) (forewing length: males: 26-29mm; females: 30-33mm) flies in
central Chile: Concepcion, Malleco, Cautin, Valdivia, Osorno, Llanquihue, Chiloe Island at elevations from 100-650m.

The forewing is narrower and more angulate than in erythrops. The hindwing eyespot is also very small.

Adetomeris microphthalma, Chile, November 19, 2003
courtesy of Tom Binter from Czech Republic.

The specimen depicted above is from Canette, Riconada env, Chile.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Adetomeris microphthalma larval hosts are not recorded.

Moths are on the wing from October - November - December and again in January - March and in May, suggesting two or three broods.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in night-flying males which are active from 9:30 pm until 11:00 pm.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Typical of the Hemileucini, larvae have urticating spines. Eggs, green at first, turning white, are deposited in masses of up to sixty eggs. Larvae feed gregariously.

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.

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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 Adetomeris.

I suspect the species name "microphthalma" is a combination of the Greek prefix for small (micro) and the Greek noun for eyeball (ophthalma), signifying the small hindwing eyespot.