DISTRIBUTION:

The Cicia pelota moth (wingspan: males: 36-50mm; females: 47-57mm) flies in
French Guiana: Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Maroni, Kaw;
Venezuela: Bolivar;
Brazil: Para and Amazonas;
Colombia: Caqueta and probably Amazonas and Putamayo;
eastern Ecuador: Sucumbios and Napo;
Peru: Pasco (RSL); and
probably Guyana; and
probably Suriname.

Cicia pelota, French Guiana, September 9, 2007, courtesy of Vany and Dominique

Cicia pelota male, Pasco Peru,
Cornell University Collection, courtesy of Ryan Saint Laurent, *

* I would recommend that the specimen from Pasco, Peru, be further analyzed, as I think there may be Amazonian "pelata" and Andean "pelata" representing different species.

The forewing has a coppery yellow ground colour while the hindwing is reddish brown. The male forewing apex is sharp. The discal spot is white surrounded by purple. The outer margin is lilac, darker purple toward the body. The basal area of the forewing is also dark. Cicia pelota male, Yasuni National Park, Napo Province, Ecuador, September 1996, courtesy/copyright of Luigi Racheli.

Cicia pelota male, Cando (near Tena), Napo, Ecuador,
September 8, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cicia pelota male (verso), Cando (near Tena), Napo, Ecuador,
September 8, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS: There are possibly as many as three broods annually with Cicia pelota moths likely on the wing in February-March, possibly in June, and in September (HK)-October-November. Both images, courtesy of Luigi Racheli, were taken in September. Cicia pelota female, Piste Kaw, French Guiana, September 1992, courtesy/copyright of Luigi Racheli.

Larvae feed on Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female Cicia pelota moths extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in the night flying males (right) which become active around 11:30 pm.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Mature larvae descend tree trunks to pupate in underground 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.

Gleditsia triacanthos.......

Honey locust

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