DISTRIBUTION:

Hirpsinjaevia viksinjaevi (wingspan: males: 38mm; females: probably larger // forewing length: males: 19mm; females: probably larger) flies in
Peru: Junin; Calabaza village at elevations near 3035m.

This moth is quite small and is very similar in appearance to several of the Hirpida species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens are on the wing in January. There are probably other flight months (February?) but there might be only a single brood at such high elevation.

Larvae possibly feed on oak species.

Hirpsinjaevia viksinjaevi HT male (verso), 38 mm, Calabaza Village, Junin, Peru,
January 29, 2011, 3035m, courtesy of Viktor Sinjaev

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen, and the males pickup and track the airbourne pheromone plume with their well-developed antennae.

Females are likely most active right after dusk. The male, above, was taken early in the evening.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hirpsinjaevia viksinjaevi larvae are probably highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

The species name, viksinjaevi, is honourific for collector Viktor Sinjaev. The genus name, Hirpsinjaevia, is also honourific for Viktor Sinjaev and recognizes a very close relationship to Hirpida species.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated ?? foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Quercus.......

Oak

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