DISTRIBUTION:

Periga mariposana (wingspan: males: 51mm; females: // forewing length: males: 26-32mm; females: 38-45mm) flies in
Peru: Junin: Mariposa; Pasco; at elevations of 1490-3500m.

Periga mariposana male, 51mm, Junin, Peru,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in February and December. There are probably additional flight months.

Larval hosts are unknown.

In 2013, Brechlin and Meister described two new Periga species from Junin, Peru, that are very close to Periga parvibulbacea. One of those species, suninensis, is reported from Sunin, and supposedly is slightly darker with more contrasting patterns on the wings. I have posted that specimen at the top of the suninensis page, as it is a good match for the image of suninensis in the Entomo-Satsphingia journal.

The two images posted on this page are also from the same area, but they seem brighter in colour with less contrast, making them a better match for the image of P. mariposana in the same journal. P. mariposana is described from near Mariposa in Junin, Peru. I would not be surprised if the two species are sympatric in Sunin. Another possiblility is the two species are synonymous. The third possibility is all specimens on this page are suninensis, distinct from mariposana which has a slightly different flight area. It should be noted, however, that P. mariposana has been taken at consistently higher elevations, so the specimens below are probably suninensis.

Periga Suninensis/mariposana?? male, Rio Venado Village, Satipo, Junin, Peru,
55mm, February 2, 2011, 1200m, courtesy of Philippe Brems.

Philippe Brems reports a February 2, 2011, flight in Satipo, Junin, Peru, at 1200m.

Periga mariposana female, Junin, Peru,
on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen, and the night-flying males detect and track the airbourne pheromone plume with their well-developed antennae.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Periga mariposana larvae are highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

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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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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Periga" chosen by Walker in 1855.

The species name "mariposana" is indicative of a specimen type location in Peru: Junin: Mariposa.

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