DISTRIBUTION:

The Adetomeris erythrops moth (wingspan: males: 40-62mm; females: 52-62mm) (forewing length: males: 22-32mm; females: 27-32mm) flies in central Chile and far to the south: Coquimbo, Valparaiso (FC), Aconcagua, Santiago, O'Higgins, Curico, Talca, Maule, Linares, Nuble, Bio-Bio, Arauco, Valdivia, Osorno, Llanquihue, Isla de Chiloe and Magallanes and in west-central Argentina: Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz. This moth was formerly classified as Io erythrops. Adetomeris erythrops male, Chile, to the right. Wings are folded in the typical resting position of the Hemileucinae. Note the darker outer area on forewings of this specimen.

This species is highly variable. The ground colour can range from light yellow beige, orange beige, olive grey, dark grey to even pink. Colour is sometimes uniform, but more often with am and pm areas noticeably darker than median area. The preapical pm line parallels the outer margin, sometimes with out-turn near the inner margin. Generally seen at elevations between 180-1400m.

Adetomeris erythrops male, Quilpue, Valparaiso, Chile,
April 1, 2011, courtesy of Fernando Calvo, digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Adetomeris erythrops larvae feed on Fagus pamilio, Fraxinus, Malosma laurina, Maytenus boaria, Nothofagus pumilio, Prunus armeniaca, Rhamnus, Rhus laurina and Rubus ulnifolia. Jurgen Vanhoudt has had good results on Rubus fruticosus.

Adetomeris erythrops male, Chile, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Adetomeris erythrops female, Chile, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Moths are on the wing from November to May, possibly as two generations. Fernando Calvo confirms an April 1, 2011, flight in Quilpue, Valparaiso, Chile.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in night-flying males which are active from 9:30 pm until 11:00 pm.

Adetomeris erythrops female (copyright protected) courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Jurgen Vanhoudt sends a series of images which look different from those submitted by Kirby Wolfe. Either this is a very variable species or additional species need to be described.

Adetomeris erythrops female, lateral, Chile,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Adetomeris erythrops female, verso, Chile,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Adetomeris erythrops female, resting, Chile,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

The eggs are slightly translucent and bright yellowish green.

Jurgen Vanhoudt has had good success rearing Adetomeris erythrops from Chile. This seems to be a highly variable and very beautiful species.

The eggs may give you a hankering for some ham.

Adetomeris erythrops eggs, Chile, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Typical of the Hemileucini, larvae have urticating spines.

Adetomeris erythrops larva (copyright protected) courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Adetomeris erythrops larva, Chile, reared on Rubus fruticosus,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Adetomeris erythrops pupae, Chile, reared on Rubus fruticosus,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

The chestnut brown pupa is formed in a very flimsy cocoon, just a few strands of silk amongst leaf litter and surface debris.

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.

Fagus pamilio Fraxinus Malosma laurina Maytenus boaria Nothofagus pumilio Prunus armeniaca...... Rhamnus Rhus laurina Rubus fruticosus (JV) Rubus inermis Rubus ulnifolia

Beech Ash Malosma laurina Mayten Nothofagus pumilio Domestic plum Buckthorn Laurel sumac Blackberry Rubus inermis Blackberry

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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 origin of the genus name Adetomeris.

I suspect the species name "erythrops" is a combination of the Greek prefix for red (erythr) and the Greek noun for eyes (ops), signifying the red around the white hindwing pupil.