DISTRIBUTION:

Ptiloscola dargei (wingspan: males: 46-60mm; females: 65-74m) flies in
Nicaragua: Managua, Carazo, Rio San Juan;
Mexico: Oaxaca, Veracruz, Chiapas;
Belize: Cayo and Stann Creek;
Guatemala: El Peten: Poctun, El Naranjo;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Heredia (CL), Alajuela, Limon, Puntarenas (40-800m), dry forests only;
(probably in Honduras; El Salvador; and Panama: Colon: Gamboa (KJRPB)); in
western Ecuador: Canar; and
in Colombia: near Bogota. There is a pink and gray wing morph in Costa Rica.

Ptiloscola dargei male, 57mm, Las Cuevas, Cayo, Belize,
courtesy of Norm Smith.

The forewing is relatively slender and elongated. The darker reddish-brown, diffuse pm line is broadly preapical and creates a series of "menisci" as it intersects with each pair of very visible veins in the lighter post median area. The fw outer margin is convex in a continuous curve to where the pm line meets the inner margin.

Ptiloscola dargei male, 51mm, Arenal, Yoro, Honduras,
September 28, 2014, 276m, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

Ptiloscola dargei male (verso), 51mm, Arenal, Yoro, Honduras,
September 28, 2014, 276m, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

In outward appearance this species is identical to Ptiloscola descimoni which typically flies at higher elevations (600-1000m).

Ptiloscola dargei male, Gamboa, Colon, Panama,
June 17, 2017, Kelsey Byers.

Ptiloscola dargei male, Gamboa, Colon, Panama,
June 17, 2017, Kelsey Byers.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Ptiloscola dargei flies in at least three distinct broods (probably more) in January - February and then again in June and in August. In summer heat pupae emerge in as few as 10-18 days.

Larvae feed on Acacia collinsii, Acacia tenuifolia and Calliandia rubescens.

Ptiloscola dargei female, 60mm, Arenal, Yoro, Honduras,
September 28, 2014, 276m, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

Ptiloscola dargei female, 65mm, Las Cuevas, Cayo, Belize,
courtesy of Norm Smith.

Ptiloscola dargei female, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Ptiloscola dargei female (verso), Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Ptiloscola dargei female (verso), 60mm, Arenal, Yoro, Honduras,
September 28, 2014, 276m, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

Visit additional recto and verso images of Ptiloscola dargei females from Yoro, Honduras, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adult Ptiloscola dargei moths emerge from pupae, and males are slightly smaller than females.

Mating begins shortly after dusk with a calling period from 10:30 pm. to 1:00 am.

A light rainfall or mist seems to stimulate additional flight or eclosions resulting in more moths on the wing, or at least taken at lights, but overall this species is infrequent at lights and very irratic in flight when approaching.

Ptiloscola dargei male, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Ptiloscola dargei male (verso), Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Night-flying females lay translucent eggs on host plant leaves. Larvae are well adorned with scoli and pupate underground in small chambers or among surface litter. Care of larvae and pupae should be as for any Neotropical species.

Ptiloscola dargei first instar, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Ptiloscola dargei final instar, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Ptiloscola dargei final instar, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Ptiloscola dargei final instar, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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.

Acacia collinsii Acacia tenuifolia Calliandra rubescens.......

Bullhorn acacia Acacia Powder puff

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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.

The genus name "Ptiloscola" comes from 'Ptilo, meaning wing, and 'scola', probably meaning twisted or crooked, perhaps refering to the irregular shape of the pm line.

The species name "dargei" is honourific for Darge.