DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia egrex (wingspan: males: 44-51mm; females: probably larger) flies in
Bolivia: La Paz (3000m); and
Peru: Cusco (1200m), Puno (1600m).

Hylesia egrex male, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

The thorax is dark brown to black, and the abdomen is dorsally black (sometimes yellow, but broadly ringed in black), with a contrasting yellow-orangey-brown tuft. The forewing is slightly more produced than in the very similar H. indurata. Ground colour is mouse grey with a purplish tint, becoming darker brown in basal lower half. The diffuse brown am line is very irregular and is inwardly lined with diffuse whitish-grey, disappearing as specimens age. The s-shaped pm line is thin and dark, outwardly lined in whitish-grey. The cell mark is dark brown and prominent. The dark contrasting veins are brown to black.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in May and in December. Larval hosts are unknown.

This species probably broods continuously on a three month cycle.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen, and the males pick up and track the airbourne pheromone plume with their well-developed antennae.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hylesia egrex larvae are probably highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

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.

I do not know the origin of the genus name Hylesia.

I do not know the reason for the species name.