Oxytenis erosa

Oxytenis erosa
Jordan, 1924

Oxytenis erosa male, Amazone Nature Lodge, Kaw, Rd. 6, French Guiana,
73mm, September 2018, courtesy of Roy Morris, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834, or
Family: Oxytenidae, Jordan, 1924
Subfamily: Oxyteninae, Jordan, 1924
Genus: Oxytenis Hubner, [1819]
Type species: Phalaena modestia, Cramer, 1780

DISTRIBUTION:

Oxytenis erosa (wingspan: males: approximately 72-73mm; females: mm) flies in
Guyana: Potaro and
French Guiana: Rio Demerara; Saint Jean du Maroni; Nouveau Chantier; Kaw (RM?) and
probably Suriname.

"Perhaps only the male is known. In outline and markings of the wings like O. leda. One of the eight specimens examined is without conspicuous grey markings on the upperside." NZ

If the identifications on this page are correct, the middle projection on the forewing outer margin is quite enlarged and projects both outward and downward. From apex to about 2/3 of the way down, the outline of the outer margin suggests the profile of a hooded man with a very large nose. Bill Oehlke

There are dark brown to black suffusions on grey brown wings with two rather prominent diffuse black patches in the median area close to the midpoint of the pm line and again close to the inner margin.

The hindwing costa is scalloped near its apex.

Oxytenis erosa, French Guiana, on my home computer only.

In some taxonomies, the Oxytenidae are treated as a distinct family rather than as a subfamily of Saturniidae.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in February, may-June-July and October. Possibly there are additional flight months.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

In the early instars, larvae resemble some of the Papilio species with their white saddles on a dark background suggesting a bird dropping. Genetic analysis should prove very interesting when it is finally done.

Moths eclose from pupae in as few as ten days from pupation date.

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.

Return to Oxytenis Genus

Rweturn to Main Saturniidae Index.