DISTRIBUTION:

The Ptiloscola lilacina affinis moth (wingspan: males: 43-55mm; females: 55-66mm) flies in western and north central Venezuela: Aragua, Distrito Federal, Miranda, Guarenas.

Moths are light brownish grey.

Ptiloscola lilacina affinis male, holotype,
The Smithsonian Insect Collection (USNM) courtesy of Ryan St. Laurent

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Ptiloscola lilacina affinis flies in May and December, suggesting at least two broods.

Franz Ziereis has reared them on willow.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adult Ptiloscola lilacina affinis moths emerge from subterranean 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.

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 lilacina affinis fourth instar, courtesy of Franz Ziereis.

Listed below are the primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants from personal correspondence (Franz Ziereis). 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.

Salix......

Willow

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Ptiloscola lilacina affinis male, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

Ptiloscola lilacina affinis female, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

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 "lilacina" probably refers to the purple tarsi (lower leg regions).

The subspecies name "affinis" probably is indicative of the "closeness" between this species and the nominate subspecies.