DISTRIBUTION:

The Gamelioides kattyae moth (wingspan: males: 51mm; females: 60mm // forewing length: males: 27mm; females: 36-37mm) flies in
western Ecuador: Pichincha: Lloa; and Imbabura at elevations from 2600-2840m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January-February, and November suggesting at least two flights annually. There are probably additional flight months.

Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Brechlin & Meister mention that the images of Gamelioides elainae in Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002 are in question. Dr. Lemaire himself states that there could be two different species depicted. Lemaire's male definitely seems like a very good match for the recently described Gamelioides anneliesae, described from Papallacta, and his female seems a very good match for the recently described Gamelioides kattyae.

If neither of Lemaire's images are of elainae, then I think there is a good chance the top female below is the true Gamelioides elainae as I can find no other good match for this female with the forewing pm line running, broadly pre-apical, almost straight to the costa. The top female could be something undescribed if not elainae.

Gamelioides females, Colombia, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens;
tentative ids by Bill Oehlke.

Gamelioides kattyae AT female, 60mm, Quito to Chiriboga, Pichincha, Ecuador,
January 2006, 2700m, on my home computer only.

Gamelioides kattyae AT female (verso), 60mm, Quito to Chiriboga, Pichincha, Ecuador,
January 2006, 2700m, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae are probably equipped with urticating spines and probably feed gregariously, especially in the early instars.

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.

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

Return to Gamelioides Genus

Goto South American Saturniidae Directory

Goto 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.

Gamelioides means Gamelia-like. In Greek mythology "Gamelia" is another name for Hera.

The species name "kattyae" is honourific for Katty Kaech.