DISTRIBUTION:

Arsenura cymonia (wingspan: approximately 125mm) flies at moderate elevations from 1100m to 2000m in
Ecuador: Sucumbios WO?, Napo CL/HK, western Pastaza WO?, Tungurahua CL, Morona-Santiago LTR, Zamora Chinchipe; and in
Peru: Cajamarca, Huanuco, Junin, Cuzco, Puno and probably Amazonas WO? and San Martin WO?; and
Bolivia: Cochabamba on the eastern slopes of the Andes.

Please note, I have no confirmed reports for those species followed by my initials (WO?), but I feel they might be present.

Based upon Entomo-Satsphingia journals, published 2010-2013, many specimens in collections, previously thought to be cymonia, may in fact be other species. see the comparison plate at bottom of this page. The range of true cymonia (limited to southern Peru: Cusco, Madre de Dios, Puno: Carabaya) may be more limited than expressed above.

Tha male's antennae are more broadly quadripectinate than in all other Arsenura species outside the Cymonia Groupe. The upper branch of the dark am line is present and meets the lower branch at a very obtuse angle. The discal spot is slightly lunulate, ie, rounded on inner edge, straight to slightly concave on outer edge.

Arsenura cymonia male, Madre de Dios, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Arsenura cymonia male (verso), Cusco, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Arsenura cymonia moth (male) (most likely yungascymonia),
courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

Based on appearance of the upper wing surfaces, it would be extremely difficult to distinguish between the south Peruvian cymonia and the northwestern Bolivian yungascymonia, but the ventral surfaces reveal significant differences. I do not know if the two species are sympatric in some areas, or, if not, where the boundaries would exist.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are probably two generations of Arsenura cymonia on the wing each year from January to February and in April (LC) and in July-August. Moths prefer a light rain and are on the wing from 12:10-3:30 am.

Horst Kach reports larvae feed on Actinidaceae: Saurauia sp.; Ericaceae: Psamisia sp.; Urticaceae: Miriocarpa sp., Bohmeria sp.; Malvaceae: Wercklea sp.

Arsenura cymonia moth (female) (most likely yungascymonia),
courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Arsenurini males use their antennae to seek out females which scent at night. The lower wings of the female (above) are much more rounded than those of the male. Females also tend to be much larger than males.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, 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.

Saurauia Psamisia Miriocarpa Bohmeria Wercklea

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.

Neither do I know the source of the species name "Cymonia". It may be a variant spelling of Symonia.

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Arsenura peggyae Peru: Cajamarca 1800-2200m; mfwl: 62-70mm Arsenura peggyae Peru: Cajamarca 1800-2200m; mfwl: 62-70mm The hindwing "tails" in the males of both peggyae and kaechi are not greatly extended. Peggyae fw outer margin is hollowed out below the slightly elongated apex before becoming slightly convex. Kaechi fw outer margin is straight to slightly convex. Arsenura kaechi Ecuador: Napo; Pastaza; Morona-Santiago;, Tunguragua. 1600-2150m; mfwl: 62-66mm Arsenura kaechi Ecuador: Napo; Pastaza; Morona-Santiago; Tunguragua. 1600-2150m; mfwl: 62-66mm Ventral surfaces reveal great differences in the distance between the pm lines and the subterminal lines. In kaechi, the pm line is far removed from the outer margin and almost runs to the edge of the cell marking. In peggyae, the pm line is far removed from the cell and is much closer to the subterminal line and the outer margin. Arsenura cymonia Peru: Cusco, Madre de Dios, Puno 1600-2150m; 62-66mm Arsenura cymonia Peru: Cusco, Madre de Dios, Puno 1600-2150m; 62-66mm Ventral surfaces reveal differences not apparent on dorsal surfaces in Cymonia Groupe. Note relative close proximity of slightly convex, slightly irregular forewing pm and sbtrmnl lines in cymonia (left) as compared to slightly concave, more even pm line and non-existent sbtrmnl line of yungascymonia (below). Arsenura yungascymonia Bolivia: La Paz 1000-1800m; 57-69mm Arsenura yungascymonia Bolivia: La Paz 1000-1800m; 57-69mm Also note heavy suffusion of blue-grey scaling in subterminal areas of all wings on yungascymonia (left), and general, overall lighter appearance of cymonia (above). It would be very difficult to distinguish between these two moths by just examining the dorsal surfaces. Arsenura amacymonia Peru: Amazonas 1500-2200m; 72-76mm Arsenura amacymonia Peru: Amazonas 1500-2200m; 72-76mm The male forewing of amacymonia seems the most elongate with a more produced apex compared to other members in the Group. Ventral fw pm line is bold, wide, almost straight. Subterminal line is close and subparallel, but more irregular. There are no blue-grey suffusions in subterminal areas of any wings. Arsenura centrocymonia Peru: Junin, Pasco, Huanuco 500-1980m; mfwl: 65-74mm Arsenura centrocymonia Male forewing slightly less elongate than amacymonia (above), and outer margin is less oblique in centrocymonia (left). Note oval fw cell mark. The ventral surfaces of all wings are much darker than in other members of the Group, and they lack blue-grey suffusions in the subterminal area. Arsenura altocymonia Peru: Cusco; 1900-2400m Arsenura altocymonia As yet the male of Arsenura altocymonia has not been described. The female is from Reyna Virgin, Cusco, Peru, at elevation of 1900-2400m. This species flies at higher elevation than other species in the group. The male is unknown.