DISTRIBUTION:

Gamelia rudloffi (wingspan: males: 47mm; females: 50mm // forewing length: males: 30-32mm; females: 27mm) flies in
Colombia: Magdalenatal; Tolima; Cundinamarca; and
western Ecuador: Manabi; Esmeralda; Imbabura; Pichincha; at elevations of 100-1460m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January-June, August, October(AC)-December. There are probably additional flight months as this species appears to brood continuously. It is probalby in many collections, labelled as G. abasia. Gamelia rudloffi larvae probably feed on common guava (Psidium guajava).

Gamelia rudloffi male, Los Cedros, Imbabura, Ecuador,
November, 2013, 1600m, courtesy of Jean Marc Gayman,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

I think there is more than one species depicted on this page, and I am not sure if either of them, other than the types, is Gamelia rudloffi. (Bill Oehlke)

Gamelia rudloffi female, Pichincha, Ecuador,
50mm, on my home computer only.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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

The species name, romanovi, is honourific for Jan Peter Rudloff.

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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