Eudyaria sigridae
Updated as per personal communication with Carlos Mielke (publication), June 2009
Updated as per personal communication with Ulf Dreschel (Canindeyu, Paraguay, 2008)
Updated as per Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo N.F. 30 (1/2): 93-94 (2009), courtesy Carlos Mielke, June 2009
Updated as per personal communication with Sergio Rios, (Reserva de Mbaracayú", Canindeyú, Paraguay, 1996-97); August 23, 2009

Eudyaria sigridae
Mielke and Dreschel, June 2009

Eudyaria sigridae male, Departamento de Canindeyu, west of Curuguaty, Paraguay,
courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

Ulf took the specimen depicted above in November as it was trapped (already dead) in a spider's web. I had tentatively ided it as Eudyaria zeta and forwarded the electonic image to Dr. Carlos for his opinion.

Carlos Mielke writes, "What a nice specimen Ulf found! Certainly is a male of Eudyaria. I have looked to this genus and I suspect that E. zeta and E. venata are synonymies, both are quite variable. For instance, I have already prepared samples for DNA analyses to be shipped to Canada to see what happens. Of course, I would be very interested in having the abdomen for genitalia studies. In Brazil, Eudyaria are always rare, seldom seen at light. Males comes late in the morning in areas of higher altitudes although widespread, and that is why there are few specimens deposited in collections."

If Carlos Mielke is correct, then E. venata would have precedence as it was described by Butler in 1871 as Dirphia venata, several years before zeta was first described by Berg in 1885 as Dirphia zeta.

Ulf's specimen does not have the dark venation mentioned by Lemaire for both venata and zeta, nor is it as dark as would be indicated in his 2002 publication. Hopefully analysis of genitalia and possible DNA analysis will reveal identification. It might be an undescribed species.

I asked if Carlos if he would be willing to examine the specimen, and I suggessted to Ulf that he send the specimen to Carlos for detailed examination. They have co-authored a description in Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo N.F. 30 (1/2): 93-94 (2009), indicating a new species, Eudyaria sigridae, named in honour of Ulf's daughter Sigrid.

Dr. Mielke recognizes E. zeta and E. venata as valid species, distinct from E. sigridae in the description.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Eudyaria, Hubner, 1819
Species: sigridae, Mielke and Dreschel, 2009

MIDI MUSIC

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DISTRIBUTION:

Eudyaria sigridae (wingspan: males: 81-106mm; females: unknonw) flies in
Paraguay: Canindeyu (UD).
Paraguay: Kanindeyu, Tava Yopoi, -24.22, -55.53, collected by U. Dreschel, 2008-11-04.

Eudyaria sigridae male, Departamento de Canindeyu, west of Curuguaty, Paraguay,
November 2008, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

Eudyaria sigridae male (verso), Departamento de Canindeyu, west of Curuguaty, Paraguay,
November 2008, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Only a single recorded specimens has been taken November. It probably also flies in other months, but males are taken late in the morning so collecting at lights is not very productive.

Larvae possibly feed upon Eryngium and probably resemble Eudyaria venata.

Eudyaria sigridae male, "Reserva de Mbaracayú", in Canindeyú, Paraguay, 1996-97, courtesy of Sergio Rios.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females by tracking her airbourne pheromone plume.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably laid in large clusters and larvae probably feed gregariously. Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Eudyaria species all have urticating spines.

The pupa is smooth with a short cremaster.

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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