Adeloneivaia fallax
(Boisduval, 1872) Othorene

Adeloneivaia fallax moth (male) courtesy of Vladimir Izersky.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Ceratocampinae Harris, 1841 was Citheroniinae Neumoegen & Dyar, 1894 Genus: Adeloneivaia, Travassos, 1940 Species: fallax, (Boisduval, 1872)

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DISTRIBUTION:

Adeloneivaia fallax (wingspan: males: 66-76mm; females: 86-96mm // forewing length: malles: 33.3-33.9; females: 44.3mm) flies in
southeastern Brazil: Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, possibly (doubtful) westward into Bolivia and Peru.

Ulf Drechsel reports them in Paraguay: Guaira and Caazapa, and they are probably also present in Alto Parana, Caaguazu and Itapua. Reinhard Foerster reports them from Misiones, Argentina.

The above image from Peru seems to match Lemaire's description: sharp forewing apex; contrasting venation; curved antemedian line, tending to converge with postmedian line near the inner margin; narrow discal spot and red area along inner margin of hindwings. However, Vladimir indicates that not all of his images are of moths from Peru.

Adeloneivaia fallax male, Guaira Department, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Adeloneivaia fallax flies in July-September. In Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, moths are on the wing in January-March, July and September-November, with larvae feeding on Mimosoideae. Larvae feed upon Inga.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adult Adeloneivaia fallax moths emerge from pupae, and males are slightly smaller than females.

Mating begins shortly after dusk with a calling period from 10:00 pm. to 12:30 am.

A light rainfall or mist seems to stimulate additional flight or eclosions resulting in more moths on the wing, or at least taken at lights.

Adeloneivaia fallax courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Night-flying females lay translucent eggs on host plant leaves.

Larvae pupate underground in small chambers.

Care of larvae and pupae should be as for any Neotropical species.

Adeloneivaia fallax larva on Acacia velutina,
Dos de Mayo, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

Adeloneivaia fallax fifth instar on Acacia velutina,
Dos de Mayo, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

Adeloneivaia fallax mature fifth instar on Acacia velutina,
Dos de Mayo, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

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.

Acacia velutina (RF) ....... Inga

Calumbi/Garapi/Unha-de-gato/Vamos-junto Inga

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The inclusion of Adeloneivaia fallax in Argentina is based on this image, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

Adeloneivaia fallax adult, Dos de Mayo, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

Although the moth is damaged, the narrow cell marking, contrasting vein, slightly concave am line, proximity of am and pm lines to each other along the inner margin, and light red scaling on hindwings indicate A. fallax.