DISTRIBUTION:

Ptiloscola rorerae (wingspan: males: 35-51mm; females: 52-56mm) flies in semi-arid regions of
western and southwestern Ecuador: Manabi, Guayas, Loja: Jorupe NP (PO).

Moths can be either orange-beige with a sprinkling of black spots or purplish gray.

On the male forewing the discal spot is always white and double.

Ptiloscola rorerae male, Bernhard Wenczel.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Ptiloscola rorerae flies in January-February.

Ptiloscola rorerae male, courtesy of Viktor Suter via Bernhard Wenczel.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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

Ptiloscola rorerae male, Urruca Lodge, Jorupe National Park, Loja, Ecuador,
February 18, 2011, 690m, courtesy of Pia Oberg.

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 erratic in flight when approaching.

Ptiloscola rorerae female, Claude Lemaire.

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 rorerae fourth instar on Quercus thurneri, Bernhard Wenczel.

Survival rate on Quercus thurneri was extremely low. The natural host is unknown.

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.

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 "rorerae" is probably honourific for a woman named Rorera.