DISTRIBUTION:

The Caio harrietae moth (wingspan: males: 92-110mm; females: approx. 100mm) flies in
arid regions of southwestern Ecuador: Guayas; Manabi; Golfe de Guayaquil, Isla Puna (FM); Loja: Jurope National Park: Urruca Lodge (PO); and possibly El Oro; and in
northwestern Peru: Piura: (Abra Porculla, 1,800 m. (FM))

The Ecuadorian specimen comes from an altitude of 300m.

This species is smaller than the other Caio species and the tail is practically non-existent. The forewing apex is less pronounced as compared to richardsoni and there is no pointed outward extension of the forewing eyespot along wing vein M1.

Caio harrietae courtesy of Rainer Marx

Caio harrietae courtesy of Rainer Marx

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Frank Meister reports taking a female in Peru in mid to late April, 2009.

Pia Oberg reports them on the wing in Loja Province, Ecuador, February 17-19, 2011.

Larvae probably feed on Bombacopsis quinatum, Floss silktree (Chorisia) and Basswood (Tilia).

Caio harrietae male, Piura, Peru, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

Caio harrietae female, Piura, Peru, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males, which have very short tails, use their antennae to seek out females which scent at night.

The hindwing tails of females are scarcely different from the those of the males, but females tend more toward a pale brown colour.

Caio harrietae, Urruca Lodge, Jorupe National Park, Loja, Ecuador,
February 17, 2011, courtesy of Pia Oberg.

Caio harrietae, Urruca Lodge, Jorupe National Park, Loja, Ecuador,
February 17, 2011, courtesy of Pia Oberg.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Franz Ziereis reports success rearing larvae on Tilia occidentalis.

Ron Brechlin and Frank Meister report rearing success on Tilia cordata.

Caio harrietae fith instar courtesy of Franz Ziereis.

Larvae are approximatley 100mm long at maturity.

Caio harrietae larva-pupa-adult cycle, courtesy of Frank Meister in SATSPHINGIA I.

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.

Bombacopsis quinatum ....... Chorisia Tilia Tilia cordata (FM) Tilia occidentalis

Pochote/Spiny Cedar Floss silktree Basswood/Lime/Linden Small-leaved Lime/Linden West Lime

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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.

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.

Caio, most often called Caligula, is one of the two heirs indicated by Tiberio in his will. Caligula was elected Emperor, ruled for a short time and fell victim to a conspiracy. He was murderd for his cruelty to the people.

The species name, harrietae, is honourific for Harriet.

Caio harrietae, Urraca Lodge, Jorupe Reserve, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke.

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Caio harrietae, Urraca Lodge, Jorupe, near Macara, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke.

Caio harrietae, Urraca Lodge, Jorupe, near Macara, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke.