Prohylesia peruviana Updated as per Entomo-Satsphingia Jahrgang 11 Heft 02 30.04.2018; February 9, 2019

Prohylesia peruviana
Lemaire, 1982

Prohylesia peruviana female, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Prohylesia peruviana courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

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
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Prohylesia, Draudt, 1929

DISTRIBUTION:

The Prohylesia peruviana moth (largest member of genus) flies in
Peru: Cusco (700m), (possibly Puno (WO??)); and
Bolivia: La Paz: Sud Yungas Road (1500m);
at low to moderate elevations on southeastern slopes of the Andes.

In 2018 Brechlin describes Prohylesia yungana from Nor Yungas, La Paz, Bolivia. Perhaps yungana replaces peruviana in Bolivia. Visit Prohylesia Comparison Chart.

Prohylesia peruviana male, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing from December until March.

Larval hosts were unknown, but Bernhard Wenczel reared larvae successfully on Phyllostachis nigra a bamboo species.

Sixth instar Prohylesia peruviana, Peru, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen to call in the night-flying males. Most male activity occurs from 10:00 pm until shortly after midnight.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Prohylesia peruviana larvae are similar to Automeris larvae, being gregarious and having urticating spines.


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.

Phyllostachis nigra.......

Black cane/Black bamboo

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