Ithomisa lepta

Ithomisa lepta
(Druce, 1890) (Coloradia)

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Ithomisa, Oberthür, 1881

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Ithomisa lepta moth (wingspan: males: ?; females: 125mm) flies in Paraguay: unknown specifics, probably southeastern Paraguay.

Only the female is available and she has uniformly brown wings and is possibly the same as catherina.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Ithomisa lepta larvae probably eat Paepalanthus polyanthus.

Flight is probably January-March.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Day-flying males use well-developed antennae to seek out females which scent during the day but fly at night.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Typical of species in the Genus Ithomisa 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.

Paepalanthus polyanthus......

Paepalanthus polyanthus

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