Molippa latemedia
Updated as per Heppner's Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera Checklist: Part 4B, 1996, November 27, 2005
SHILAP: Notes on some Saturniidae from Albania (Caqueta Department), Racheli and Vinciguerra, 2005
Updated from Polillas Saturnidas de Colombia, 1997, Angela R. Amarillo-S., January 2007
Updated as per Entomo Satsphingia Jahrgang 4 Heft 4 21.10.2011; March 31, 2012

Molippa latemedia
(Druce, 1890) Dirphia

Molippa latemedia male, Ecuador copyright Leroy Simon.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Molippa, Walker, 1855

MIDI MUSIC

Chiquitita
ON.OFF
<bgsound src="chiquita[1].mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Molippa latemedia (wingspan: males: 51-60mm; females: 71-78mm) flies in
Ecuador: Orellana, Napo and Pastaza;
Colombia: Caqueta, Meta, Antioquia and probably Amazonas and Putamayo (maybe M. malyi in Putamayo).

Previously thought to also fly in
Peru: Huanuco, Junin, Pasco, Cusco, Madre de Dios, Puno; those specimens are more likely the darker Molippa intermediata

Similar specimens from Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz; and
Argentina are now recognized as being Molippa boliviana.

I am not sure of the designation of specimens from western Brazil: Amazonas, but they would more likely be latemediata or even M. malyi???

Forewing ground colour is orangey-brown in contrast with the darker grey-brown of M. intermedaiata. The basal median area of the hindwings is quite dark in latemedia.

There is a pale pink-violet overcast on fresh specimens.

Molippa intermediata in typical resting pose, by Leroy Simon.

Much darker Molippa intermediata

Molippa latemedia male, 55mm, Meta, Colombia,
on my home computer only.

Based on recent DNA barcoding analysis, Brechlin and Meister, 2011, have described and depicted many new species from Colombia: Putamayo (M. malyi); Peru ( M. intermediata); and Bolivia (M. boliviana and M. sinyaevorum) which, it seems, would replace M. latemedia in those respective countries, although Molippa latemedia also flies in Colombia. I think in most cases DNA barcoding analysis might be necessary to do determinations. It is also possible that the bar for determining new species has been set too low, and some of these new species may yet be synonymized with the more established species. Time will tell. Presently, I have moved many of the images formerly on this page to new designations, based largely on location as long as they were reasonably good matches for images and descriptions in the Entomo Satsphingia journals.

I have left two of the darker grey-brown images that I believe to be M. intermediata on this page to show contrast between the more orangey-brown of what I believe is true M. latemedia, which is probably restricted to Colombia, Ecuador and possibly northwestern Brazil.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January-February-March, May-September, suggesting at least three broods.

Larvae eat oak and are easy to rear.

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.

Colouration and markings of the ventral surface are perhaps the most striking feature of this moth as evidenced in the Kirby Wolfe image of the darker M. intermediata to the right.

Molippa latemedia verso, Ecuador copyright Leroy Simon.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae of Molippa resemble somewhat those of the genus Automeris, having bodies covered in spines.

Molippa latemedia female, 71mm, Meta, Colombia,
on my home computer only.

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.

Acacia baileyana.......
Quercus

Cootamundra Wattle
Oak

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