DISTRIBUTION:

The Eacles ormondei peruviana (wingspan: males: 81-104mm; females 132mm) moth flies in
Peru: Huanuco, Ucayali (350m; VI), (probably San Martin and Loreto (WO?));
Venezuela: Bolivar;
Guyana;
French Guiana: Kourou, Saul, Kaw;
Brazil: Para and Amapa;
Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo, Orelana LTR, Morona-Santiago and probably Pastaza (WO?); and
Bolivia: Santa Cruz and La Paz.

It probably also flies in
Suriname ??

Eacles ormondei peruviana male, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
January 22, 2003, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Eacles ormondei peruviana male (verso), Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
January 22, 2003, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Visit Eacles ormondei peruviana, Atalaya, Ucayali, Peru, courtesy of Vladimir Izersky.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Peru, Eacles ormondei peruviana moths are on the wing in January-February and then again in June-July, usually between midnight and 3:00 am. There are flights in French Guiana in February and October. Vladimir Izersky reports an early November flight in Atalaya, Ucayali, Peru.

Eacles ormondei peruviana male, Taipiplaya, Yungas, LaPaz, Bolivia,
February 2, 2006, courtesy of Lars Andersen

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females, which are much plainer than males, mate around midnight, and the pair remains coupled until the following evening. Upon separation, the females begin their ovipositing flights.

Eacles ormondei peruviana male, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Eacles ormondei peruviana male, French Guiana, courtesy of Carlot Didier.

Eacles ormondei peruviana female, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
June 25, 2006, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Eacles ormondei peruviana female (verso), Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
June 25, 2006, courtesy of Horst Kach.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Lemon-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.

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.

Eacles ormondei peruviana fifth instar, French Guiana, courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie.

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 "ormondei" is honourific for Ormonde.

The subspecies name "peruviana" is indicative of a specimen type locality in Peru.