DISTRIBUTION:

Hirpida levocuscoensis (wingspan: males: 52-56mm; females: probably larger // forewing length: males: 27-29mm; females: probably larger) flies in
Peru: Cusco: Valle Quillabamba: 2 km Alfamayo, collected by P. Schmit, 2004-10-08.

Specimens have been taken at elevations of 2400-2790m.

On the male, the broadly preapical pm line is a concave, distinct band of grey-greenish-yellow, outwardly traced by a band of very pale yellow. The pm line is a very slightly convex band of grey-greenish-yellow, inwardly traced by a band of pale yellow. Ground colour is a pale, brownish-rose, and might be considerably darker on fresh specimens.

The apex is not produced, and the forewing outer margin is marked by a relatively thin strip of darker brownish-rose.

Hirpida levocuscoensis male, Cusco, Peru,
52mm, courtesy of Ron Brechlin, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens are on the wing in February-March and October and December. There are probably other flight months.

Larvae possibly feed on oak species.

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.

Females are likely most active right after dusk. The male, above, was taken early in the evening.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hirpida levocuscoensis larvae are highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

The species name, levocuscoensis, is indicative of characters similar to H. levis and a specimen type location in Cusco, Peru.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated ?? foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Quercus .......

Oak

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