DISTRIBUTION:

Catacantha siriae (wingspan: males: 45mm; females: mm // Mfwl: 24-27mm; Ffwl: ) flies in Peru: Cusco: San Pedro; Junin: Satipo: Calabaza; Pasco: Santa Rosa; Pasco: Oxapampa; and
Bolivia: Cochabamba.

In 2010, Brechlin, Meister & van Schayck described six new species in the Catacantha genus. In 2012, Brechlin & Meister described an additional new Catacantha species, but placed in synonomy four of the "new species" described only two years earlier.

As of 2012, Catacantha evitae, Catacantha sofiae, Catacantha juliae are all designated as subjective junior synonyms of Catacantha siriae.

Visit Catachantha Genus Comparison Plate

Catacantha siriae male, 45mm, San Pedro, Cuzco, Peru,
May 22, 2012, 1370m, courtesy of Jim Vargo,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in April-may and October. There may also be flights in other months.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters of 6-40+ on hostplant twigs. Larvae have urticating spines and are gregarious, especially in the early instars.

The species name, siriae, is honourific for Siri Van Schayck, daughter of Eric Van Schayck.

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.

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