DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia invidiosa (wingspan: males: 31-39mm; females: 46-50mm) flies in
Panama: Canal Zone and
Costa Rica: Alajuela, Cartago, Puntarenas, San Jose (CL), Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon (IB).

Brechlin and Meister, 2016, indicate nominate invidiosa from Honduras: Atlantida: Comayagua and
Colombia: Antioquia; Boyaca.

I susepct this species is also present in Nicaragua.

Hylesia invidiosa male, 31mm, Atlantida, Honduras,
courtesy of Frank Meister, on my home computer only.

Hylesia invidiosa female, 47mm, Antioquia, Colombia,
courtesy of Frank Meister, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January, February, March, June, July, October and November, suggesting at least three broods annually. Larvae feed on Byrsonima crassifolia and Hampea appendiculata.

Hylesia invidiosa female courtesy of Dan Janzen.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

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

Hylesia invidiosa final instar, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Hylesia invidiosa final instar, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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.

Byrsonima crassifolia Hampea appendiculata .......

Golden Spoon/Nance Hampea appendiculata

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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, 'invidiosa', is unknown to me.