DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia oroyex (wingspan: males: 42-45-46mm; females: 51-56mm) flies in
Peru: San Martin, possibly Junin (A&FW), Cusco, Puno; and
Bolivia: Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, at elevations from 600-1800m.

This species is most similar, in Peru, to H. canitia, H. paroryex and H. canandensis. I believe the forewing apex is much less rounded, more pointed (slightly upwards) than in either H. paroyex or H. canandensis with which it is sympatric in some areas. Of the three species mentioned H. panandensis has the most rounded The abdomen is reddish brown to dark yellow with black rings. It can be entirely black. The forewing is elongate and slightly falcate. Ground colour varies from light brown to dark brown, usually with a purplish shade. The straight forewing postmedial line is very weak, and is not tangent to the dark cell marking.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae feed on ??

This species probably broods continuously on a three month cycle. Flight records exist for November-December and February-March.

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.

Hylesia oroyex female, 54mm, Cochabamba, Bolivia, courtesy/copyright Ron Brechlin

Hylesia oroyex female, courtesy/copyright Ron Brechlin

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

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

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and anticipated alternate 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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