I (Bill Oehlke) favour argyrea due to more rounded appearance of black bars in subterminal area, whereas in peggyae, those same endings appear "clean cut" or "evenly sliced". Both species therefore fly in Bahia, only about 158km apart. They might even be sympatric.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866 Tribe: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866 Genus: Eubergia, Bouvier, 1929

DISTRIBUTION:

Eubergia argyrea (wingspan: males: 33-38mm; females: 43-44mm) flies in
Brazil: Pernambuco, Sergipe, Ceara and Bahia in eastern central portions of the country.
Brazil: Ceara: Santa Quiteria Co.: Bem-Posta Farm, 2008-04-08;
Brazil: Ceara : Santa Quiteria Co: Bem-Posta Farm, 2008-02-03;
Brazil: Rio Grande do Norte: Taboleiro Grande, March 3, 3017 (FO).

I suspect it also flies in Paraiba in northeastern Brazil. This is probably a caatinga (thorny scrub) species and would be unlikely in Atlantic Forest areas.

Eubergia argyrea, Brazil, courtesy of Carlos Mielke, on my home computer only.

Eubergia argyrea male, Taboleiro Grande, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
March 3, 2017, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larval hosts are unknown. Only a few known specimens exist in collections with sightings in February, March (FO), April, September and November. The forewings are like other Eubergia species, but the hindwings have a strong red ocellus.

Eubergia argyrea, Brazil, courtesy of Frank Meister, on my home computer only.

Eubergia argyrea male, Taboleiro Grande, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
March 3, 2017, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen. Males use highly developed antennae to track the airbourne pheromone to locate the females.

Eubergia argyrea male (verso), Brazil, courtesy of Carlos Mielke, on my home computer only.

Eubergia argyrea male, Taboleiro Grande, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
March 3, 2017, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in large clusters and larvae are probably highly gregarious.

Urticating spines would offer the Eubergia argyrea larvae much protection.

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.

Return to Main Saturniidae Index

Return to Eubergia Genus

Eubergia argyrea, Brazil, Seitz.