DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia medifex (wingspan: males: 39-43; females: probably larger) flies in the
eastern Cordillera of Colombia: Cundinamarca; at elevations from 1800-2200m.

The specimen at the top of the page was photographed in Minca, in the eastern cordillera of Colombia, but at much lower elevation than reported by Lemaire, 2002. It is, however, a good match for his depiction and description of medifex.

The thorax is greyish-brown. The forewing is broad, brown, and not apically produced. There are weak greyish suffusions in the antemedian and submarginal areas. The discal spot is indistinct in the very narrow median area because of the am line far removed from the wing base.

I could not find anything else even close in Colombia, with perhaps metabus being closest in appearance, but not listed for Colombia.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larval hosts are unknown.

This species possibly broods continuously on a three month cycle. Specimens are only noted thus far in August.

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 deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hylesia medifex larvae probably are 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 "medifex".