Hypermerina kasyi
Updated as per personal communication with Vladimir Izersky (Junin, Peru, 2600m, November), January 2009; May 24, 2013
Updated as per personal communication with Horst Kach (Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador, 250m, September 6, 1997); February 21, 2011; May 24, 2013
Updated as per Entomo-Satsphingia Jahrgang 4 Heft 5 29.12.2011; May 24, 2013

Hypermerina rubrojunensis
Brechlin & Meister, 2011

Hypermerina rubrojunensis male, Carrizal, Junin, Peru,
November 18, 2008, 2600m, courtesy of Vladimir Izersky;
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Hypermerina, Lemaire, 1969

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DISTRIBUTION:

Hypermerina rubrojunensis (forewing length: males: mm; females: probably larger) flies in
Peru: Amazonas, Cusco, Junin (VI), (probably San Martin, Huanuco, Puno (WO??)). Vladimir Izersky reports it flying at elevations as high as 2600m in Junin, Peru; and
eastern Ecuador: Orellana and Napo.

Reddish to orangey-brown specimens from Ecuador and Peru are H. rubrojunensis file, while the darker olive grey-green species, H. kasyi, is possibly limited to Bolivia and southeastern Peru: Cusco and Puno.

I would not be surprised if there are significant DNA differences in the low elevation specimen from Orellana, Peru, and the high elevation specimen from Junin. Peru.

I do not know whether or not the two species, kaysi and rubrojunensis, are sympatric in some areas or if they are mutually exclusive.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in June-July and again in November-December. Horst Kach reports a September 6, 1997, flight in Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador, 250m.

The larval hosts are unknown.

Hypermerina rubrojunensis male, Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador,
September 6, 1997, 250m, courtesy of Horst Kach;
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Hypermerina rubrojunensis male (verso), Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador,
September 6, 1997, 250m, courtesy of Horst Kach;
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use well-developed antennae to seek out females which scent at night. Females are probably active from 10:00 pm until midnight; males are active from 10:30 pm until 1:00 am.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Typical of species in the Genus Hypermerina and the Subfamily Hemileucinae, the larvae are armed with urticating spines.

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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