DISTRIBUTON:

Hylesia schuessleri moth flies in
Brazil: Federal District: Planaltina; Minas Gerais: Nova Lima; Goias: Vianopolis; Mato Grosso: Alto Rio Arinos, Diamantino; Mato Grosso do Sul: Corumba; Sao Paulo: Sao Carolos, Itiparina; at elevations from 400-1100m.

This is a cerrado species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae feed on Annona crassiflora, Aspidosperma tomentosum, Protium ovatum, Caryocar brasiliense, Erythroxylum deciduum, Erythroxylum tortuosum, Bauhinia sp., Casearia sylvestris, Rapanea guianensis, Neea theifera, Roupala montana, Pouteria ramiflora.

This species probably broods continuously on a three month cycle.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hylesia schuessleri larvae 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 (cerrado) foodplants is worthwhile.

Annona crassiflora Aspidosperma tomentosum ....... Bauhinia sp. Caryocar brasiliense Casearia sylvestris Erythroxylum deciduum Erythroxylum tortuosum Neea theifera Pouteria ramiflora Protium ovatum Rapanea guianensis Roupala montana

marolo, araticum cortiça, araticum do cerrado, bruto Aspidosperma tomentosum; timber tree cerrado woody legume pequi; "souari nut" tree wild sage coca coca Brazilian tea plant bully tree “almecegueira”, “pau-de-breu” Capororoca Roupale; Leopardwood

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