DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia umbrata (wingspan: males: 41-58mm; females: 57-65mm) flies from
Costa Rica: Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Puntarenas, Limon (CL), Guanacaste, San Jose (IB); to
French Guiana: Saint Georges, Camopi, Kaw, Cayenne, Regina, Coralie, Kourou, Saul, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, P. Isnard, Cacao. It is wide spread, and is also taken in
Venezuela: Bolivar, Distrito Federal, Yaracuy, Carabobo;
Guatemala: Zacapa;
Panama: Canal Zone;
Nicaragua: Managua, Zelaya;
Peru: Huanuco, Loreto, Pasco, Madre de Dios;
Ecuador: Pichincha, Canar, Bolivar, Los Rios, Napo, Morona-Santiago and probably Pastaza;
Colombia: Valle, Choco, Cundinamarca, Huila; and
Brazil: Para, Espirito Santo. I suspect it also flies inHonduras: ? Cortes, ? Atlantida.

It inhabits wet forests, usually at lower elevations. It has been recorded as high as 1450m.

The forewing is broad. The pm line is broad, dark and very slightly "S" shaped. The am line is indistinct; the cell mark is dark and distinct. Ground colour varies from pale grey to light purplish-grey.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae feed on cashew.

This species probably broods continuously on a three month cycle. Anacardium occidentale

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 umbrata larvae are highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae. Mature larvae are whitish-yellow with black markings and a cherry-red head. Cocoons are spun up in aan aggregate mass.

Hylesia umbrata fifth instar, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Hylesia umbrata fifth instar, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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.

Return to Hylesia Index

Return to Main Saturniidae Index

The following image(s) may or may not appear on your monitor, depending upon whether or not I get permission from respective photographers/owners to display them. I do have permission for my own private use.

Hylesia umbrata male, Piste P. Isnard, French Guiana,
April 23, 2006, collection of Daniel Herbin, photo copyright Rene Lahousse,
French Guiana Systematique.

Hylesia umbrata female, Cacao, French Guiana,
April 9, 1997, collection of Rodolphe Rougerie, photo copyright Rene Lahousse,
French Guiana Systematique.

Hylesia frederici/umbrata/cottica/subcottica/tapareba ?? female, Amazone Nature Lodge, Kaw Rd6, French Guiana,
64mm, September 2018, courtesy of Roy Morris, very tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

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