DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia indurata (wingspan: males: 38-47mm; females: 55-63mm) flies in
French Guiana: Camopi, Roura, Kaw, Cayenne, Regina, Nancibo, Coralie, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Maripasoula, Saul, Eleonor;
Surinam: Geldersland;
Guyana: North West;
Venezuela: Bolivar, Amazonas;
Colombia: Meta, Putamayo;
Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo (LR), and Orellana;
eastern Peru: Loreto, Huanuco;
Brazil: Para, Amazonas.

This species has been taken at elevations of 100m to 720m.

The thorax is brownish-grey. The abdomen is black with many yellowish hairs. The elongate forewing is slightly apically produced. 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.

The hindwing seems elongated toward the anal angle and has a thin, darker marginal band. This species is quite similar to H. gigantex subspecies.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January-February, May, June, October and November, suggesting three or four broods annually. Larval hosts are unknown.

This species probably broods continuously on a three month cycle.

Hylesia indurata, female, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen, and the night-flying 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 indurata 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.

The reason for the species name, 'indurata', is unknown to me.

Hylesia indurata male, Eleonor, French Guiana,
January 2000, Rodolphe Rougerie, French Guiana Systematique,
on my home computer only.