DISTRIBUTION:

Gamelia nadezhdae (wingspan: 51-56mm; females: 64-72mm // forewing length: males: 25-29mm; females: 31-37mm) flies in
Peru: Puno, San Gaban; Cusco; Madre de Dios; Junin: Satipo; Pasco; at elevations from 200-2130m.

Male forewing ground colour is brown with a much lighter postmedian area with very prominent light grey-white suffusions in the subterminal area. The female is greyer, but also has a much lighter pm area, also with strong grey-white suffusions outwardly capping the irregular subterminal band.

Both genders have a relatively small hindwing ocellus

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January-February, June, August, October, December. There are probably additional flight months. Gamelia nadezhdae larvae probably feed on Common guava (Psidium guajava).

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 nadezhdae female, Satipo, Junin, Peru,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Victor Suter,
tenetative id by Bill Oehlke.

Gamelia nadhezhdae AT female, 64mm, San Gaban, Puno, Peru,
August 2002, 700m, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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

Gamelia nadezhdae sixth instar, Satipo, Junin, Peru,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Victor Suter,
tenetative id by Bill Oehlke.

Gamelia nadezhdae sixth instar, Satipo, Junin, Peru,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Victor Suter,
tenetative id by Bill Oehlke.

The species name, nadezhdae, is honourific for Nadezhda Maksimovna Rudenko.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Psidium guajava .......

Common guava

Return to Main Index

Return to Gamelia Genus

This page is designed and maintained by Bill Oehlke as part of the World's Largest Saturniidae Site.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Support this website and visit other insect sites by clicking flashing butterfly links to left or right.