DISTRIBUTION:

Adelowalkeria flavosignata (wingspan: males: 63-82mm; females: 87-106mm // forewing length: males: 37.4-38.8mm; females: 51.0-51.8mm) flies in neotropical areas of South America:
possibly Ecuador,
southern Venezuela: Aragua, Distrito Federal, Monagas;
Brazil: Goias, Distrito Federal, Espirito Santo, Mato Grosso, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais (LV), Parana, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul;
Peru: Junin; and
Bolivia: Santa Cruz, Cochabamba; preferring elevations from 200 meters to 700 meters above sea level.

Based on the image top of the page, I believe it also flies in much of Paraguay: Concepcion, San Pedro (PS), Canindeyu, Cordillera, Caaguazu, Alto Parana, Guaira, Paraguari, Caazapa, and probably Misiones and probably Itapua.

A. flavosignata has more contrasting dark bands between the abdominal segments as compared to A. eugenia. The hindwing of the male of A. flavosignata has a wide yellow marginal band, lacking in A. eugenia.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata pair courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata female, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 23, 2009, courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine,
identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata resting female, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 23, 2009, courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine,
identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata female (verso), Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 23, 2009, courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine,
identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 26, 2009, courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine,
identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 26, 2009, courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine,
identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata male (verso), Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 26, 2009, courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine,
identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
November 6, 2010, courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine,
identification by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are probably at least two broods annually, possibly in January and February and then again in May-June and July, and in August-September-October.

Larry Valentine reports February and November flights in Itanhandu, souheastern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

In Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, moths are on the wing in January-February and September-December, with larvae feeding on Fabaceae: Faboideae.

Larvae feed upon Machaerium brasiliensis, Cassia, Crotalaria and Mimosa.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females (considerably larger than males) probably call from 11:00 pm until 2:00 am and then make their ovipositing flights from 10:30 pm until 1:00 am over the next several nights.

Based on a series of images I received from Paul Smith, I believe the female depicted to the right is Adelowalkeri flavosignata from Laguna Blanca, San Pedro, Paraguay, October 20, 2008. I note that on the other images images of A. flavosignata the transverse lilac/lavender band runs well below the white forewing cell spot. In A. eugenia the band runs closer to the costa.

This verso image of the same moth shows a forewing tip that is only slightly produced. In A. eugenia the female forewing tip is more produced. The male abdomen shows more purple in flavosignata, more yellow in eugenia. I do not know if that character also applies to the female. The one to the right shows considerable purple.

The image to the right shows the female in a typical resting position. Note the lilac/lavender band is only slightly preapical. In the sole electronic image I have of a female A. eugenia from French Guiana, the band is noticeably more preapical. Fresh specimens are much darker than those of spread specimens in collections.

The frons is yellow in A. eugenia, but it is brown in A. flavosignata.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Females deposit green, somewhat flattened, circular eggs on host foliage.

Mature larvae leave the foodplant to pupate in subterranean chambers.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata fifth instar, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine, identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata fifth instar, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine, identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata fifth instar, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine, identification by Bill Oehlke.

Adelowalkeria flavosignata pupae, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 22, 2009, courtesy/copyright Larry Valentine,
identification by Bill Oehlke.

Visit Adelowalkeria flavosignata larvae, pupae and emergent male and female, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, February 23, 2009, November 6, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

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.

Cassia Crotalaria Machaerium brasiliensis ........ Mimosa Myrocarpus frondosus (RF)

Labernum or senna Crotalaria Machaerium brasiliensis Mimosa Myrocarpus frondosus

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