DISTRIBUTION:

Molippa strigosa (wingspan: males: 49-52mm; females: 54mm) flies in
Brazil: Parana, and it also flies in
northern Argentina: Cordoba (NV) and probably Misiones.

This is a very distinctive Molippa species with broad white stripes covering most of the forewing.

Molippa strigosa male, Cordoba, Argentina,
courtesy of Adriana Inés Zapata, via Nigel Venters.

Molippa strigosa male, Castro, Parana, Brazil,
Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been recorded in January.

Adriana Inés Zapata, via Nigel Venters, reports them on the wing in Cordoba, Argentina, in September, December and January.

Larvae and their 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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in clusters and larvae feed gregariously. Typical of Hemileucini species, larvae have urticating spines. Larvae are reported on Poaceae (Grasses).

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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