Eurides has recently (February 13, 2018) informed me that Eacles lauroi was first described by Oiticica-Filho, 1938.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Ceratocampinae, Harris, 1841 Genus: Eacles, Hübner, [1819] Species: lombardi, OITICICA FILHO, 1938

DISTRIBUTION:

Eacles lauroi (wingspan: males: 76-98mm; females: 100-113mm // forewing length: males: 38-48mm; females: 51-58mm) flies in
southeastern Brazil: Sao Paulo (HT), Rio de Janeiro, Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and possibly in southeastern ? Minas Gerais.

Specimens are usually taken at altitudes of over 1100m up to 1800m, while the similar E. mayi is seldom taken at altitudes of over 1000m. Eacles lauroi is no longer a synonym for E. mayi; it has been elevated to full species status, SIEWERT et al. (2010).

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Brazil, Eacles lauroi moths are on the wing in June-July-August, October-November-December and January-February-March, suggesting the possibility of three broods.

Moths come to lights shortly after midnight. Natural hosts are unknown to me.

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 lauroi female, courtesy of Carlos G. C. Mielke. copyright

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.

Return to Eacles Index

Return to Main Saturniidae Index

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 "lauroi" is probably honourific for Lauro, a contemporary collector who may have supplied a specimen of the moth.

The images indicated below reside on my home computer only and are for identification purposes.

Eacles mayi male, Claude Lemaire (on my home computer only)

Eacles mayi female, Claude Lemaire (on my home computer only)