DISTRIBUTION:

Arsenura batesii aurantiaca (wingspan: males: 113-128mm; females: probably larger) flies in
western Ecuador: Los Rios 2 km east of Quevedo (low elevation).

Racheli and Racheli, 2006, correct Lemaire's statement about the species being from Rio Bamba in Chimborazo.

This little known and seldom encountered subspecies is characterized by smaller size, less elongated forewings, an orangey-beige ground colour and indistinct white spotting in the pm line.

The outer margin is straight instead of oblique.

Luigi Racheli indicates probably only three or four specimens are known to exist in collections.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are probably at least two generations of Arsenura batesii aurantiaca on the wing each year from January to February and in July. Moths prefer a light rain and are on the wing from 12:10-3:30 am. The larval host is unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Arsenurini males use their antennae to seek out females which scent at night.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larvae descend tree trunks at maturity 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.

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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Arsenura" chosen by Duncan in 1841.

The species name "batesii" is honourific for Bates.

The subspecies name "aurantiaca" is probably for the lighter orange to golden colouration of this moth.

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Arsenura batesii aurantiaca male, Rio Baba, Los Rios, Ecuador,
Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only, black and white photo.