DISTRIBUTION:

Gamelia dargei (wingspan: males: 55mm; females: // forewing length: males 28-33mm; females: 39-40mm) flies in
Peru: Pasco: Oxapampa, at elevations of 2000-2500m;
Peru: Pasco: Oxapampa, Antenna, collected by J. Boettger, 2002-04-18;
Peru: Pasco, -10.5667, -75.3833, 2001-07-15;
Peru: Pasco, -10.5667, -75.3833, 2002-06-09.

Quadripectinate orange-brown antennae are 8.0 - 9.0mm long, with the longest rami 1.4-1.5mm.

The ground colour varies from dark brown-grey to a much lighter orangey-brown. There is not antemedial line. There is a small, lighter coloured forewing cell spot. The apex toward the median area has a dusting of lighter, yellowish scales. The fw pm line is straight after its slight bend along the inner margin, and it is only slightly preapical. This line is dark internally, outlined externally by a lighter narow band. The outer margin is almost straight and the submarginal area is light in colour.

On the hindwing, the pm line is strongly bent.

Perhaps the lighter form is something other than dargei? Bill Oehlke, April 16, 2015

Females have a produced apical tip on the forewing, and the pm line is broad and dark.

Gamelia dargei male (dark), Peru

Gamelia dargei male (dark-verso), Peru

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in April-early May, June-July and October.

Gamelia dargei larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of their abdomens to "call" the males. Males use their antennae to hone in on the airbourne pheromone.

Gamelia dargei female (recto), Peru

Gamelia dargei female (verso), Peru

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae probably resemble Automeris species with numerous urticating body spines. Larvae are probably gregarious.

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.

In Greek mythology "Gamelia" is another name for Hera.

The species name "dargei" is honourific for Philippe Darge.