DISTRIBUTION:

Meroleucoides amarillae (wingspan: males: 60-64mm; females: 65-72-74mm // fwl: m: 30-32mm; f: 38-40mm) flies in
Colombia: Santander; in cloud forests.

Meroleucoides amarillae is similar to M. flavodiscata, but on average it is smaller in size, has black instead of yellow antennal rami, a much smaller discal spot of the forewing, and darker ground color of fore- and hindwings in males.

Meroleuca Meroleucoides amarillae male, 64mm, Santander, Colombia,
Entomo-Satsphinga, Jahrgang 11 Heft 01 22.01.2018, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is at least one brood in April, but this species probably broods continuously, or has at least one more brood in November.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen, and the males pick up and track the airbourne pheromone plume with their well-developed antennae.

Meroleucoides amarillae PT female, Corregimiento Virolin, Charala, Santander, Colombia,
April 6, 1995, 2300m, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

Meroleuca Meroleucoides amarillae female, 65mm, Santander, Colombia,
Entomo-Satsphinga, Jahrgang 11 Heft 01 22.01.2018, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage. Possibly the larvae feed on grasses.

Meroleucoides amarillae larvae probably 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 foodplants is worthwhile.

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