Without a location it is very difficult to precisely distinguish Janiodes species, and in some cases DNA barcoding would be necessary. I am not sure if the Kirby Wolfe images on this page are laverna or some other species in the laverna group.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Cercophanidae, Subfamily: Janiodinae, Genus: Janiodes, Jordan, 1924 Speces: laverna laverna, (Druce, 1890)

DISTRIBUTION:

Janiodes laverna laverna (wingspan: males: 72mm; females: ) flies in
Ecuador: Pichincha; Imbabura; Zamora Chinchipe??; at elevations from 2230-2840m.
Venezuela;
Colombia;
Peru: Chanchamayo; and
Bolivia: Chaco.

J. pauperata, J. contrasta, J. duplinota, J. macromacula, J. pulverosa and J. desquamata are the same as J. laverna (NHM).

Apparently this is a very variable species. There seems to be both lighter/paler (orangey-yellow-beige) and darker (dark grey) forms.

I am not sure but possibly Janiodes laverna laverna is limited to Ecuador, being replaced in other countries by species names put forward in 2011 and 2020.

Janiodes laverna laverna darker form male, Pichincha, Ecuador,
72mm, courtesy of Entomo-Satsphingia.

Janiodes laverna laverna lighter form male, Pichincha, Ecuador,
courtesy of Entomo-Satsphingia.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The highly variable Janiodes laverna laverna moth flies in March-April-May and November-December and possibly at other times.

Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adult Janiodes laverna laverna moths possibly emerge from naked pupae formed up at soil surface????

Janiodes laverna laverna female, Pichincha, Ecuador,
courtesy of Entomo-Satsphingia.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Possibly the Janiodes species do not spin cocoons; instead larvae pupate at soil surface. I am not sure???

Janiodes laverna laverna cycle, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Janiodes laverna laverna final instar, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

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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