DISTRIBUTION:

Molippa bertrandi (wingspan: males: 74-81mm; females: 82mm) flies in
northeastern Peru: Amazonas and San Martin at moderate to high elevations (2100-3100m).

This large species is distinguished by the large, very dark, forewing discal spot and the broad, diffuse hindwing postmedial line and submarginal band. The hindwing basal area is salmon.

There are many very similar Molippa species flying in Peru.

Visit Peru: Molippa Chart.

Molippa bertrandi male, 74mm, Peru,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Males have been taken in January-February and April-May, suggesting at least two broods.

The larva and its hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of their abdomens to "call" the males. Males use their antennae to hone in on the airbourne pheromone.

Molippa bertrandi male, Abra Patricia Lodge, Amazonas, Peru,
2100m, courtesy of Bob Curry.

Molippa bertrandi female, 82mm, Peru, ESs, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in clusters and larvae feed gregariously. Typical of Hemileucini species, larvae have 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.

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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 "Molippa" chosen by Walker in 1855.

The species name 'bertrandi', is named to honour D. Bertrand who, along with T. Porion, collected the holotype specimen in 1980.

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