DISTRIBUTION:

Eacles mayi (wingspan: males: 75-96mm; females: 98-114mm // forewing length: males: 39.1-39.9mm; females: larger) flies in
southeastern Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.

Eacles mayi male, 90mm, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
courtesy of Cornell University Collection, via Ryan Saint Laurent.

It should be noted that the Cornell University image location was given only as Rio, and I (Bill Oehlke) have made the assumption that refers to Rio de Janeiro, the specimen type location for mayi; Rio might refer to Rio Grande do Sul, and we could be looking at two different species on this page. I note a difference in the pm line and its interection with the costa or outer margin in the Cornell image and the image from Eurides Furtado. In the image from Eurides, the forewing pm line does not quite reach the costa, turning instead to an intersection with the outer margin, slightly post apical. On the other hand, the same line in the Cornell University images is slightly preapical in its intersection with the costa. Perhaps this is just individual variation within the species. Perhaps not! Also note the size difference in the forewing cell markings.

Eacles mayi male, 81mm, Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
Cornell University Collection, via Ryan Saint Laurent.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Brazil, Eacles mayi moths are on the wing in July, September-October-November and January, suggesting the possibility of three broods.

Natural hosts are unknown to me.

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 mayi female, courtesy of Carlos G. C. Mielke. copyright

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 "mayi" is probably honourific for E. May, a contemporary collector who may have supplied a specimen of the moth.

The images indicated below reside on my home computer only and are for identification purposes.

Eacles mayi male, Claude Lemaire (on my home computer only)

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