DISTRIBUTION:

Hirpida levopascoensis (wingspan: males: 60-62mm; females: 67mm// forewing length: males: 31-32mm; females: 35mm) flies in
Peru: Pasco: Oxapampa, -10.37, -75.3, collected by Bernhard Wenczel, 2001-07-26;
Peru: Huanuco: Carpish Pass, collected by R. Marx, 2009-05-01.

Based on recent (2010) DNA barcoding analysis, I have corrected the identification of the moths depicted above from Hidripa levis to Hidripa levopascoensis. At the time that Bernhard Wenczel sent the image, H. levopascoensis had not been described.

H. levis is probably restricted to higher elevations (3200-3500m) in Apurimac and Amazonas, Peru, while H. levopascoensis flies at elevations of 1800-2800m in Pasco, and Huanuco, Peru. H. levocuscoensis flies at elevations of 2400-2790m in Cusco, Peru.

The forewing lines in H. levopascoensis are wide bands of drab greenish-yellow (male) to pale greenish-brown (female), whereas in both H. levis and H. levocuscoensis, the same lines/bands are pale yellow and not nearly as wide.

Hidripa levopascoensis has a rosy ground colour while the other two species have light brown basal and median areas and an even lighter post median area.

Subsequent to writing of these descriptions, I have found that Brechlin and Meister, 2011, have described a fourth member of the group, Hirpida levojunensis, from Junin, Peru. The pm band of H. levojunensis is strongly curved outward as it approaches the inner margin.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens are on the wing in May-June-July. 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 levopascoensis larvae are highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

The species name is indicative of a close association with H. levis and a specimen type in Pasco, 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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