DISTRIBUTION:

Molippa ninfaustralica (wingspan: males: 42-50mm; females: ?? // forewing length: males: 22-25mm; ??) flies in
Mexico: Quinatana Roo (HT); Campeche; Chiapas; and in
?? Belize: Cayo (NS); and
Guatemala: Alta Verapaz; Izabal; and
??Honduras: Atlantida (RL) and probably Cortes (WO?).

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

Molippa ninfaustralica HT male, 50mm, Quintana Roo, Mexico,
July 9, 2005, 20m, on my home computer only.

In 2011, Brechlin and Meister published a description of this new species, and i t is very similar to, Molippa ninfa,with HT location of ninfa from Veracruz, Mexico, with a northern range for ninfa as far north as Tamaulipas, Mexico.

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 image at the top of the page from Mexico seems more like M. ninfaustralica due to proximity of lines and discal marks.
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 image at top of page.
The image from Kirby Wolfe also shows forewing am and pm lines almost touching along the inner margin. Thus all could be M. ninfaustralica, with ninfaustralica having a range at least as far south as Honduras.

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?

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, (most likely M. ninfaustralica), La Ceiba, Atlantida, Honduras,
55mm, August 17, 2007, 120m, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

Kirby Wolfe reports rearing success with Robinia.

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. Kirby Wolfe reports rearing success with Robinia.

Molippa ninfa larva, (most likely M. ninfaustralica), copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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

Molippa ninfa larva, (most likely M. ninfaustralica), copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe.

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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