DISTRIBUTION:

Molippa ninfa (wingspan: males: 47-56mm; females: 63mm // forewing length: males: 26-29mm; females: 32-33mm) flies in
Mexico: Tamaulipas, San Luis Patosi, Veracruz, Colima, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Quintana Roo; and in
Belize: Cayo (NS); and
Guatemala: Alta Verapaz; and
Honduras: Atlantida (RL) and probably Cortes (WO?).

This moth looks like a small Molippa rosea, but, unlike M. rosea, it has a slightly lunulate postmedian line.

In 2011, Brechlin and Meister published a description of a new, very similar species, Molippa ninfaustralica, and they chose that species name for 1) the great similarity to ninfa, and because 2) the HT male ninfaustralica from Quintana Roo, Mexico, had a more southerly (australica) HT location than the HT male of ninfa from Veracruz, Mexico, with a northern range for ninfa as far north as Tamaulipas, Mexico.

The name may be a bit of a misnomer, however, because overall M. ninfa seems to have a more southerly range than M. ninfaustralica.

Brechlin and Meister indicate that on average Molippa ninfa is larger than M. ninfaustralica, and the am and pm lines of M. ninfa are less proximate than those of M. ninfaustralica. The cell marks of ninfa are thus also closer to the pm lines.

In the image of M. ninfaustralica that is presented in the Entomo Satsphingia journal, the forewing am and pm lines are almost touching where they meet the inner margin.

The specimen from Honduras shows am and pm lines that are almost connate at inner margin, but cell mark does not seem as close to lines as in ninfaustralica. The white scalloped tracing of fw pm line is also a character on M. ninfa.

The specimen from Guatemala, courtesy of Eric van Schayck and the specimen from Cayo, Belize, courtesy of Norm Smith, both seem to have forewing am and pm lines more distant from each other, with slightly smaller forewing discal marks, making them more likely to be Molippa ninfa.

If the above assessments are true, then the two species are probably sympatric through most of their respective ranges. It will be interesting to see if the reported size difference (largest ninfaustralica is smaller than smallest ninfa), and the proximity of the lines to each other and to the cell mark remain valid indicators of species. Those apparent differences could be due to camera angles or individual variation?

Molipa ninfa male, 54mm, Las Cuevas, Cayo, Belize, courtesy of Norm Smith.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species flies from May-September, suggesting at least two broods.

Robert Lehman reports an August flight in Honduras.

Molippa ninfa male, (or M. ninfaustralica), La Ceiba, Atlantida, Honduras,
55mm, August 17, 2007, 120m, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are 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.

Robinia.......

Locust

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