DISTRIBUTION:

Eacles fulvaster fulvaster (wingspan: males: 96-120mm; females: 130-147mm) probably only flies in
French Guiana: Maripa (near Saint-Georges); Saul.

Based on recent (2011 Brechlin & Meister), many of the specimens previously depicted on this page have been moved to new (2011) classifications of Eacles tyrannus, Eacles fulvaster fulvaster, Eacles fulvaster oriecuadaoriana, and Eacles kaechi.

Although the species are quite similar, there is enough of a difference in physical appearance alone to justify the new classifications. (Bill Oehlke)

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are probably three to four broods annually.

Natural larval hosts are unknown. Steve Kohll reports good success with Eucalyptus gunnii.

Eacles fulvaster fulvaster female, French Guiana,
courtesy of French Guiana Systematics, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females, which are much plainer than males, mate around 10:00 P.M., and the pair remains coupled until the following evening. Upon separation, the females begin their ovipositing flights.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eacles masoni fulvaster first instar, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

Eacles masoni fulvaster second instar, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

Eacles masoni fulvaster third instar green morph, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

Eacles masoni fulvaster third instar brown morph, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

Eacles masoni fulvaster fourth instar green morph, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

Eacles masoni fulvaster fourth instar yellow morph, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

Eacles masoni fulvaster fifth instar brown morph, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

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.

Eucalyptus gunnii .......

Cider Gum (SK)

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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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Eacles", but it may be a combination of "Ea", the Greek word for gods and goddesses and the Greek suffix "cles", meaning 'glory of'.

The species name "masoni" is honourific for a man named Mason.

I do not know the meaning behind the subspecies name of 'fulvaster'.