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Updated as per
Heppner's Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera Checklist: Part 4B, 1996, November 27, 2005 Lemaire's Ceratocampinae, November 27, 2005 |
TAXONOMY:Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 |
"WhatAWonderfulWorld" |
Natural hosts are unknown.
Females have ciliate antennae and extend a scent gland, emitting pheromone, from the tip of the abdomen at night. Males fly in a zigzag pattern into the wind and use their more highly developed antennae (quadripectinate for basal two-thirds) to track the pheromone.The pair remains coupled until the following evening. Upon separation, the females begin their ovipositing flights. Male right, French Guiana, Carlot Didier. |
Eacles acuta male courtesy of Entomo Service
Eacles acuta female, French Guiana, courtesy of Carlos G. C. Mielke. copyright
Larvae are solitary in their feeding habits and have extensive thoracic scoli, especially pronounced in early instars. At maturity, larvae descend trees to pupate in underground chambers. Pupae should be stored under cool , but above freezing temperatures, and sprinkling with water a few times a week in spring encourages subsequent eclosions.
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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.
I do not know the source of the genus
name "Eacles", but it may be a combination of
"Ea", the Greek word for gods and goddesses and the Greek
suffix "cles", meaning 'glory of'.
The species name "acuta" is probably for the sharp (acute)
angle at the apex of the male forewing.
Eacles acuta male, Bruno Penin, French Guiana Systematique, on my home computer only.