Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking her airbourne pheromone plume.

Eudyaria zeta female

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously. Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Eudyaria species all have urticating spines (pale green on black integument/skin).

The pupa is smooth with a short cremaster. The cocoon is just a few strands of silk, used to bind leaf litter.

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.

Eryngium sp. (AB) ........

Serruchetas or Cardas

Alejandro Borquez sends the following account: Eudyaria zeta by Alejandro Borquez slight editing by Bill Oehlke Eudyaria zeta, Buenos Aires, Argentina, courtesy of Alejandro Bourquez Date and location of adult capture Adults are on the wing from the end of March until the end of April. In Argentina they fly in Buenos Aires, Entre Rios, Santa Fe to Corrientes. Foodplants The foodplants are Serruchetas or Cardas (Eryngium sp.). In the riveras of rivers, creeks and zones where the water of the rains forms marshes or simply small temporary lagoons, they are frequent. Eryngium species, Buenos Aires, Argentina, courtesy of Alejandro Borquez. Observations The adults emerge in the Argentine autumn from March up to the end of April, when the rains and cold weather begin. They copulate at night. The female subsequently deposits eggs on the leaves of Eringium sp. in clusters of 50 or more eggs. The eggs are white to yellowish with a diameter of 2 mm. There is a small dark micropyle. Larvae emerge from 25 or 45 days after deposition of eggs. The first instar larvae are gregarious, and proceed to the center of the plant, the most tender part. They feed for 140 to 150 consecutive days. The growth rate depends on the climatic conditions. For the first four instars the appearance remains the same, black integument with black spines. Ithomisa kinkelini left and Eudyaria zeta right, fifth instars, courtesy of Alejandro Borquez. It is very probable to see larvae in the different stadiums in June and July, from the first instar up to the fifth instar. In the final instar the skin is noticeably beige between dark charcoal grey segments (brownish laterally) and the spines are now orange. In October to the end of November, the larvae search for places to spin their very flimsy cocoons (just a few strands of silk), often not on the foodplant. The form of the flimsy cocoon is similar to that of Ithomisa kinkellini, but the locations are below or between the leaves of the Eryngium that are near some water course. Eudyaria zeta pupae, Argentina, courtesy of Alejandro Borquez. Regarding the cocoon, Alejandro adds "The caterpillar just pupates in a nest in leaf litter. It weaves a few threads on and under him, and, with part of the excrement, covers itself above and below. . Pupal diapause, from 120 to 130 days, depends on the variations of the climate. The adults emerge when the rains and the fresh autumns days return, completing the cycle. Alejandro indicates wingspans of the specimens he has observed range from 90-100mm for males and 95-110mm for females. Male (right) 90mm, March 15, 2008, Buenos Aires. Eudyaria zeta female, ex cocoon, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 110mm, April 13, 2009, courtesy of Alejandro Bourquez.

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