DISTRIBUTION:

Cicia crocata (wingspan: males: 34-42mm; females: 40-53mm) flies in
central and southeastern Brazil: Goias; Minas Gerais: Teofila Otoni, Itanhandu (LV); Rio de Janeiro: Saquarema (AeLS) and Petropolis (RG); Parana (CM); Rio Grande do Sul; Sao Paulo; and possibly westward into Peru (doubtful).

Cicia crocata, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
June 4, 2016, courtesy of Ana e Luis Santos, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

Moths are highly variable, yellow to pinkish-brown, usually sprinkled with dark dots with a slight purplish tint toward the outer margin.

In males the apical forewing pm line meets the inner margin well on the body side of its midpoint. The cell is marked by a white dot in a slightly darkened area. Fringe along the evenly curved fw outer and inner margins is orangey-brown with white tips. Fringe on the hindwing is white.

The abdomen dorsal surface is carmen. The entire underside of the body and the legs are off-white.

Cicia crocata, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
June 4, 2016, courtesy of Ana e Luis Santos, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

Cicia crocata, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
June 4, 2016, courtesy of Ana e Luis Santos, id by Bill Oehlke

Females have quadripectinate antennae for the lower half.

This moth is senior to and the same as Adelocephala invalida.

Cicia crocata male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 21, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are possibly as many as three broods annually with Cicia crocata moths are possibly on the wing in January (LV)-February, June, and then again in October-November-December.

Larvae feed on Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos). In Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, larvae have been reported on Fabaceae and Caesalpinioideae.

Regarding the images from Rio de Janeiro, which I have tentatively identified as Cicia crocata, I believe the angle of the camera shots and angulation of the wings (all of the same moth) affect the appearance of the wing shape and the contour of the pm line. I think the orangey background colouration may also be affecting the apparent wing colouration, which can be quite variable in this species. By process of elimination and the following characters: creamy-white legs, thoracic colouration and pattern, white cell spot on a slightly darkened region, dark speckling, and violet tinge in submarginal area I (Bill Oehlke) have tentatively identified this moth as Cicia crocata. Other opinions are welcomed.

Cicia crocata, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
June 4, 2016, courtesy of Ana e Luis Santos, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

Cicia crocata, Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
June 4, 2016, courtesy of Ana e Luis Santos, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

Cicia crocata male (verso), Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 21, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female Cicia crocata moths extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in the night flying males which become active around 11:30 pm.

Cicia crocata female, Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
December 20, 2019, courtesy of Mauricio Gomes.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Mature larvae descend tree trunks to pupate in underground chambers.

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.

Gleditsia triacanthos.......

Honey locust

Return to Cicia Genus Index

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