DISTRIBUTION:

The Eacles imperialis anchicayensis moth (wingspan: males: 107-128mm; females: 112-164mm) flies at low and moderate elevations in
Colombia and
western Ecuador: Esmeraldas: Lita, Manabi, Pichincha, and Loja: Jorupe NP. It probably flies throughout Ecuador on the western slopes.

Males have elongated forewings. The apex is prominent and the outer margin is concave and usually very dark.

Visit beautiful images of Eacles imperialis anchicayensis male, female and instars two through five, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Visit image of Eacles imperialis anchicayensis male, Urruca Lodge, Jorupe National Park, Loja, Ecuador, February 18, 2011, courtesy of Pia Oberg.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, Urraca Lodge, Jorupe Reserve, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis male, courtesy/copyright Uwe Kauz.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis male, Lita, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador,
February 18, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis male (verso), Lita, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador,
February 18, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Colombia, Eacles imperialis anchicayensis moths are on the wing in January-February and November, and possibly in other months.

Larvae accept Quercus robur.

Uwe Kauz reports he has reared the larvae on Scarlet firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea). In 2007 Uwe is having success with early instar larvae on privet.

Horst Kach reports success on Castanea sativa.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, first instars on privet, courtesy/copyright Uwe Kauz.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, second instar on privet, courtesy/copyright Uwe Kauz.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, third instar on Firethorn, courtesy/copyright Uwe Kauz.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, fifth instar on privet, courtesy/copyright Uwe Kauz.

On March 28, Uwe Kauz writes, "Most larvae are now L5. The brood reared on privet is perfect!! The larva in the photo is 4.75 inches long!"

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, green form on privet, courtesy/copyright Uwe Kauz.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females have ciliate antennae and extend a scent gland, emitting pheromone, from the tip of the abdomen at night. Males fly in a zigzag pattern into the wind and use their more highly developed antennae (quadripectinate for basal two-thirds) to track the pheromone.

The pair remains coupled until the following evening. Upon separation, the females begin their ovipositing flights.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, in copula, courtesy/copyright Uwe Kauz.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, female, Lita, Esmeraldas, Ecuador,
January, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, female, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, female (verso), courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Horst Kach sends the following images of E. i. anchicayensis eggs and instars 3-5 from Road Lita – San Lorenzo ca. 15 km from Lita, 750 m, and indicates moths on the wing there from November until April.

Yellow, translucent eggs are deposited singly or in small clusters of up to six. The larvae become visible through the egg shells a day or so before emerging.

Larvae are solitary in their feeding habits and have extensive thoracic scoli, especially pronounced in early instars. At maturity, larvae descend trees to pupate in underground chambers. Pupae should be stored under cool , but above freezing temperatures, and sprinkling with water a few times a week in spring encourages subsequent eclosions.

Visit Eacles imperialis anchicayensis fifth instar larval images, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Visit Eacles imperialis anchicayensis instars three through five, Esmeraldas, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

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.

Castanea sativa Ligustrum ovalifolium ....... Pyracantha coccinea Quercus robur

Spanish/European Chestnut Privet Scarlet firethorn English oak

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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 "imperialis" is probably for the majestic appearance and colouration of this moth.

The subspecies name "anchicayensis" is probably for the location of the specimen type along the Anchicay River in Buenaventura, Colombia

Eacles imperialis anchicayensis, pair, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.