DISTRIBUTION:

The Leucanella contempta contempta moth (wingspan: males: 82-103mm; females: 100mm (KP)-109-111mm) flies in
Colombia: Valle; Santander;
in Bolivia: La Paz; Cochabamba: Arani (KP);
in Argentina: Salta and Jujuy (NV);
in Ecuador: Bolivar, Loja, Sucumbios, Napo, Morona-Santiago and Pastaza and Esmeraldas (HK); and in
Peru: San Martin; Huanuco; Junin; Madre de Dios, Puno, (probably Amazonas, Loreto, Pasco, Cusco (WO?);
in low and medium altitude in eastern and western Andean forests of 600 - 2800m elevations.

Lemaire, Hemileucinae, 2002 mentions an almost consistent olive-grey ground colour, and he also comments that the wide altitude/elevation range is unusual. Perhaps DNA barcoding will break this species into even more subspecies than are currently (2011) recognized.

The male forewing is only slightly elongated and falcate with a pointed apex. The brown pm line is slightly preapical and inwardly lined with yellowish-bronze. Lemaire does not comment on the am line in his description and his two images of males show differences, one in which the am line is almost entirely straight; one where there is a definite inwardly obtuse angle formed at the cubitus.

The multi-pupilled hindwing eyespot is outlined with a relatively thick and distinct yellow to copper-coloured circle. The basal median area is grey.

Based on DNA barcoding results showing L. yungasensis from Jujuy, Argentina, I now feel the Nigel Venters image from Calilegua, is L. yungasensis.

Leucanella contempta (more likely L. yungasensis) male, Calilegua, Jujuy, Argentina,
February 17, 2010, 1100m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.

The Leucanella contempta from Jujuy Province represents an additional geographic listing for Argentina. The forewing pm line is slightly more preapical and the fw outer margin is slightly more concave than in most other specimens, but I feel L. contempta is best match of known possibilities. Lemaire lists it in Salta Province, Argentina

Leucanella contempta male, Arani, Cochabamba, April 2005, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Leucanella contempta male, Arani, Cochabamba, April 2005, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Leucanella contempta female, Arani, Cochabamba, courtesy of Kelly Price.

The female, above, courtesy of Kelly Price, has a relatively large forewing cell mark, and may be another species. The hindwing ocellus is also quite large. (Bill Oehlke)

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in April-May, August, October-November-December in Colombia, suggesting at least three broods annually. Flight times are slightly different in more southerly countries. Vladimir Izersky reports a late January flight in Junin, Peru.

Nigel Venters reports a February flight in Calilegua, Jujuy, Argentina.

Leucanella contempta contempta larvae eat Ligustrum ovalifolium, Prunus capuli, Prunus domestica and Prunus serotina. Bernhard Wenczel reports rearing success of contempta subspecies on Salix, Prunus and Juglans.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use well-developed antennae to seek out females which scent at night.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Relatively large white oval eggs are laid in clusters, and larvae, which have urticating spines, feed gregariously.

The cocoon is probably brown, leaf-wrapped, sturdy and affixed to a stem or twig.

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.

Juglans Ligustrum ovalifolium....... Prunus capuli...... Prunus domestica Prunus serotina Salix

Walnut Variegated privet Capulin black cherry Plum Wild black cherry Willow

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Leucanella" chosen by Lemaire in 1969. PERHAPS (pure speculation by Bill Oehlke) it was chosen for the "little light" spots surrounding the pupil in the type species leucane.

The reason for the species name "contempta" is unknown to me, although the species has been confused with nyctimene and leucane perhaps to Lemaire's disdain (pure speculation).

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Leucanella contempta female, Bolivia,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
very tentative/questionable id on this one.

Perhaps some of the other images on this page are incorrect.

Leucanella contempta male, Bolivia,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
very tentative/questionable id on this one.

Perhaps some of the other images on this page are incorrect.