DISTRIBUTION:

The Scolesa leucantha moth (wingspan: males: 56-74mm; females: 67-80mm) flies in southeastern Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, at elevations around 850-1400m.

Scolesa viettei male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 31, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, might be Scolesa leucantha.

Scolesa viettei male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 31, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, might be Scolesa leucantha.

Scolesa viettei male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 31, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, might be Scolesa leucantha.

Claude Lemaire writes that examination of genitalia is sometimes necessary to distinguish S. viettei from S. leucantha. He does not list either from southeastern Minas Gerais, but he does list both from neighboring states, with S. leucantha having a slightly more elongate forewing.

Males have a small black discal spot which is absent in females.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in September and possibly at other times.

Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Moths emerge from subterrranean pupae. Females probably call from 10:30 pm until 12:30 am and then make their ovipositing flights over the next several nights.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Eggs are translucent and development can be seen through eggshells.

Newly emerged larvae are particularly well adorned with thoracic "horns".

Mature larvae leave the foodplant to pupate in subterranean chambers.

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.

I do not know the meaning of or reason for the genus name "Scolesa".

The species name "leucantha" translates to "white flower" if it is a combination of 'leuc' and 'antha', but it could mean "white thorn" if a combination 'leu' and 'cantha'. In either case, I see no white on the dorsal surface of the moth.