DISTRIBUTION:

Molippa rosea (wingspan: males: 64-72mm; females: 85mm) flies in
Mexico: Veracruz; Puebla; Guerrero; Oaxaca; Chiapas; at elevations of 550-1630m.

Note almost concolorous fringe with wing veins ending with a pinkish-grey dot as well as the almost straight forewing outer margin and more pointed forewing apex compared to the more rounded apices of ninfa and ninfaustralica.

The juncture of the am and pm lines with the inner margin seems to be much more disjoint than in the much smaller ninfa and ninfaustralica.

The forewing pm line seems to disappear before meeting the dark apical patch, and there seems to be more dark brown on the basal costal region and in the upper third of the basal area compared to ninfa or ninfaustralica. The image at the top of the page is a very good match for Lemaire's image.

Molippa rosea male, Veracruz, Mexico,
on my home computer only, Claude Lemaire.

The following image from Mexico was sent to me as Molipla rosea, and it has some features of rosea and some features of ninfa and ninfaustralica. It could be something undescribed.

Molippa rosea by Leroy Simon.

Visit Mexico Molippa Comparison Chart.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been observed from June until September.

Larvae feed on black locust/false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) and on Sycamore (Platanus).

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:

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

Note apple green head.

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.

Platanus Robinia pseudoacacia.......

Sycamore Black locust/False acacia

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