DISTRIBUTION:

Hirpida amazonensis (wingspan: males: 50-56mm; females: 61mm // forewing length: males: 26-29mm; females: 32mm) flies in
Peru: Amazonas: Oso Perdido, 2000-05-01.

Specimens have been taken at elevations near 1650m.

The female has a paler ground colour and a hindwing with a yellowish tinge. The hindwing of the male is much more reddish-brown

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens are on the wing in May. There are probably other flight months.

Larvae possibly feed on oak species.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen, and the night-flying males pickup and track the airbourne pheromone plume with their well-developed antennae.

Females are likely most active right after dusk. The male, above, was taken early in the evening.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hirpida amazonensis larvae are highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

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.

Quercus.......

Oak

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