DISTRIBUTION:

Othorene winbrechlini (wingspan: males: 108-127mm; females: 138-173mm // forewing length: males: 55-65mm; females: 70-88mm) flies in
northwestern Bolivia: La Paz: Nor Yungas;
eastern Ecuador: Napo??; Pastaza??;
eastern Peru: Loreto; Amazonas; San Martin; Cusco; Madre de Dios; Ucayali; Junin; Pasco; Puno; and
northwestern Brazil: Amazonas; Rhondonia; Para; probably western Mato Grosso (EF).

Specimens have been taken at elevations from 280-1800m.

Othorene winbrechlini is quite similar to but larger than Othorene hodeva from French Guiana. It is also larger than O. cadmus from southeastern Brazil. DNA barcoding is probably necessary to conclusively distinguish between O. hodeva and O winbrechlini, although I believe hodeva is most likely found along the northern, more coastal, lowlands of South America from Guyana to French Guiana; while winbrechlini is found as indicated above. Almost all of the images on this page were originally sent to me as O. hodeva.

I must note, however, that the specimens from Ecuador seem different from those of Peru, and the Brazilian specimens from Eurides Furtado seem different from those of other areas, particularly in the shape of the pm line, and its proximity to the white cell mark.

Othorene winbrechlini male, Ecuador, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Othorene winbrechlini male, Ecuador, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Othorene winbrechlini male, Yasuni National Park (Napo), Ecuador,
October 1, 2003, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Othorene winbrechlini seem to have at least three broods annually with peak flights in January, March-April, and in June and then again in October.

Othorene winbrechlini male, Brazil, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
id by Bill Oehlke

Othorene winbrechlini male, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
id by Bill Oehlke

Othorene winbrechlini female, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
id by Bill Oehlke

Larvae probably feed upon Gleditsia triacanthos and are reported in the wild on Sclerolobium paniculatum (Eurides Furtado).

In the lab, Bernhard Wenczel has reared them (or O. hodeva) on Quercus turneri X pseudoturneri.

Othorene winbrechlini pair, male: 106 mm, January; female 125 mm, February,
Reserva Vale da Solidão 14o22’S 56o07’W, 450 m, Mato Grosso, Brazil,
courtesy of Eurides Furtado, id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking the airbourne pheromone plume.

Othorene winbrechlini, female, Peru, courtesy of Viktor Suter.

Othorene winbrechlini, female, Rio Landayacu, Pastaza, Ecuador,
April 4, 2008, courtesy/copyright of Horst Kach.

Neither sex comes in to lights regularly, but peak activity runs from 10:30 pm until 2:30 am with the females on the wing earlier than the males.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Translucent, yellowish eggs are deposited on host foliage. Incubation is short, lasting only seven to eight days. Larvae, solitary in all instars, are well adorned with thoracic horns, especially in the early instars.

Othorene winbrechlini fourth instar larva, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Othorene winbrechlini, larva, Peru, courtesy of Viktor Suter.

Pupation is in an underground chamber excavated by the mature larva. Othorene winbrechlini pupa, courtesy of Eurides Furtado.

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.

Gleditsia triacanthos Quercus turneri X pseudoturneri....... Sclerolobium paniculatum

Honeylocust Quercus turneri X pseudoturneri Velame or Veludo

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

I do not know the origin of the genus name Othorene.

The species name "winbrechlini" is honourific for Dr. Winfried Brechlin, father of describer Ron Brechlin.