DISTRIBUTION:

The Eacles callopteris moth (wingspan: males: 83-105mm; females: 110mm) flies in
Peru: Huanuco, Junin (PB) and Puno, and probably Pasco, Cusco and Madre de Dios;
Ecuador: Morona-Santiago, Sucumbios (LTR), Napo (LTR), Zamora Chinchipe (LTR), and maybe Pastaza; and
Bolivia: La Paz; on the eastern slopes of the Andes at moderate elevations.

Eacles callopteris male, Rio Venado Village, Satipo, Junin, Peru,
February 3, 2011, 1200m, 104mm, courtesy of Philippe Brems.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Ecuador, Eacles callopteris moths are on the wing in July and December, suggesting at least two broods. Philippe Brems reports a February 3, 2011, flight in Satipo, Junin, Peru.

Natural hosts are unknown.

Eacles callopteris male, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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.

Eacles callopteris female, Claude Lemaire (on my home computer only).

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Yellow, translucent eggs are deposited singly or in small clusters of up to six. The larvae become visible through the egg shells a day or so before emerging.

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.

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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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 "callopteris" is a combination of the Greek words 'callo' for beautiful and 'pteris' for wing.