DISTRIBUTION:

Eacles imperialis piurensis (approximate wingspan: males: 105mm; females larger // forewing length: males: 49-56mm) flies in
Peru: Piura: La Filadera, 870m; Abra Porcuya, 1950m; Lambayeque: Penachi, 1800m; Motube, 800m.

This subspecies is very similar to anchicayensis from Valle de Cauca, but piurensis is considerably smaller than anchicayensis and the forewing is not as falcate.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in February-March and June. Natural hosts are unknown.

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 piurensis males, Motupe, Lambayeque, Peru,
February 19, 2017, 800m, courtesy of Rainer Marx.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

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.

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.

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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/subspecies names "imperialis piurensis" are indicative of similarity to Eacles imperialis and a specimen type locale in Piura, Peru.