DISTRIBUTON:

Ptiloscola wolfei (forewing length: males: 27-30mm; females: larger) flies in Peru: Pasco; La Suiza, 1810m; Oxapampa, 1800-2000m; Puno: San Gavan, 700m; Amazonas: Puente Nieva, 900m and Amazonas, Bagua Chica, Montenegro, 600m.

It is probably found in the other Peru regions from Amazonas to Puno on the eastern slopes of the Andes. I believe Bernhard Wenczel indicated this species is also found in western Bolivia, but I am not sure.

Ptiloscola wolfei/photophyla?? male, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

I am somewhat confused at the two dates I have for publication of original descriptions of this species. Perhaps the intended description by Naumann, Brosch, & Meister, 2002, never got published for some reason.

Ptiloscola wolfei male, Peru, from Entomo-Satsphingia 1 (1): 21 – 26 (April 2008), courtesy of Ron Brechlin.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Ptiloscola wolfei flies in April, July-August and November, and possibly in other months. Larval host(s) are unknown.

Ptiloscola comparison plate, from Entomo-Satsphingia 1 (1): 21 – 26 (April 2008), courtesy of Ron Brechlin.
Original description and notes (in German) in Entomo-Satsphingia 1 (1): 21 – 26 (April 2008).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adult Ptiloscola wolfei 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.

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 photophila ? female, Shima, Junin, Peru,
700m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

The female from Shima, Peru, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones, has been tentatively identified as photophila. I am not completely sure of this id. I have very few images of Ptiloscola females, and my most reliable reference for Ceratocampinae, Lemaire's Ceratocampinae 1988, is significantly dated.

The 2008 publication by Brechlin and Meister indicates photophila might be replaced by wolfei in Peru, but perhaps the two species are sympatric in Junin. The presence of the white spots in the forewing cell region are also suggestive of Ptiloscola bipunctata, which, according to Lemaire, is known only from northern Peru.

Perhaps the moth from Shima is Ptiloscola bipunctata, indicating a range extension into central Peru.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, 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.

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.

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 "wolfei" is honourific for Kirby Wolfe.

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Ptiloscola 2008