DISTRIBUTION:

The Molippa superba tangerinii moth (wingspan: males: 43-53mm; females: 57mm) flies on high plateaus of
central Brazil: Distrito Federal; Goias.

Molippa superba tangerinii male, Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

Molippa superba tangerinii female, Campinacu, Goias, Brazil, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

Lemaire, 2002, writes, "Male: Average size smaller than the nominotypical subspecies; the discal spot of the forewing that is also smaller has no tooth or much smaller teeth on M3 and M2."

I notice that the two males depicted on this page more closely resemble tangerinii (named for N. Tangerini) as depicted by Lemaire than they do his depictions of nominate subspecies male and female.

Also the hindwing "eyespot" is tangent to the median band in Lemaire's images of M. superba superba, while there is space in his sole image of M. superba tangerinii.

The space between the antemedial and postmedial lines where they intersect the forewing inner margin is also greater in Lemaire's image of tangerinii (bottom male) as compared to superba (middle female).

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in February and October. This is probably a bivoltine subspecies.

Molippa superba superba female courtesy of Viktor Suter via Bernhard Wenczel.

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.

Molippa superba superba larva courtesy of Viktor Suter via Bernhard Wenczel.

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.

Molippa superba superba courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

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