DISTRIBUTION:

Eubergia paraguari (wingspan: males: mm; females: 49mm // forewing length: males: mm; females: 25mm) flies in
Paraguay: Paraguari: south of of Sapucai, at elevations near 200m.

There is a substantial suffusion of grey scales throughout the hindwing basal median area of females. The male is, as of 2015, still undescribed/ The fringes on all wings also show considerable light grey to black hairs on th efemale.

Eubergia caisa (more likely E. paraguari) male, Paraguari, Paraguay,
courtesy of Franz Ziereis

I notice in the HT female Eubergia paraguari, depicted and described by Brechlin & Meister 2015, the forewing orange colouration on wing veins does not extend to the end of the black bars surrounding the veins. It seems that in other Eubergia species the orange and the black terminate in sync.

I also notice in the image of a male Eubergia from Paraguari, provided by Franz Ziereis directly above, there is also a discontinuation of the orange on the veins prior to the termination of the black bars surrounding the veins. I therefore think Franz's image is more likley the undescribed male of E. paraguari. The male sent by Franz has an almost pure white hindwing basal-median area. Other males, with the exception of altoparanensis, seem to have grey suffusions into the hindwing basal-median area above and external to the cell mark. The location is also suggestive on E. paraguari. Bill Oehlke

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larval hosts are unknown. Only a single specimen exists in collections with sightings in November. I suspect there are additional flight months. The forewings are like other Eubergia species.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in large clusters and larvae are probably highly gregarious. Based on images provided by Ulf Drechsel of either E. paraguari or E. altoparanensis eggs, it appears that the females lay their eggs enmasse and cover the sticky eggs with abdominal hairs which are probably urticating or can cause some sort of unpleasant allergenic reaction with anyone/anything that contacts them.

By coincidence, I came across some images of similar egg masses for some of the Hylesia species from Brazil. Research showed the eggs had an incubation period of over fifty days. I would not be surprised to learn that Eubergia eggs also have a very long incubation period. The image below shows a hair-covered mass of eggs which was probably removed from its mooring. I suspect the 'nest' in its recto position, probably looks like a ple of hay.

Urticating spines would offer the Eubergia paraguari larvae much protection.

Eubergia altoparanensis/paraguari eggs, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

Eubergia altoparanensis/paraguari eggs, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

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.

The species name is indicative of a specimen type locality in Paraguari, Paraguay.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Eubergia Genus

Return to South American Saturniidae Directory

Return to Main WLSS Index