DISTRIBUTION:

Gamelia paramartiniana (wingspan: males: 48mm; females: 61mm // forewing length: males: 25-30mm; females: 31-32mm) flies in
Peru: San Martin: Mina de Sol and Rioja; Amazonas: Puente Nieva;
Ecuador: Zamora-Chinchipe; Napo; Pastaza; Imbabura, Sucumbios, Orellana; at elevations of 330-1400m.

The male forewing has a slightly rounded appearance with a convex outer margin and a curved costa; and an apex that is only scarcely produced. The pm line is slightly pre-apical, and slightly concave, and meets inner margin a bit more than 1/4 from the anal angle. The ground colour is reddish brown, darker in basal area and darker just interior to the pm line. The fw ocellus is a small olive green circle surrounded by a black ring within a small six "concave-sided" enclosure.

The hw ocellus is slightly oval.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, November. There are probably additional flight months.

Gamelia paramartiniana 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 paramartiniana AT female, El Carrizal, San Martin, Peru,
July 2011, 1800m, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae resemble Automeris species with their numerous urticating body spines. Larvae are probably gregarious, at least in the early instars.

The species name, paramartiniana, is indicative of specimen types from San Martin, Peru, and a very close similarity to G. sanmartiniana with which it is sympatric in San Martin.

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

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