DISTRIBUTION:

Hirpida junopascoensis (wingspan: males: 60-66mm; females: probably larger // forewing length: males: 32-34mm; females: probably larger) flies in
Peru: Pasco and Junin at elevations from 1810-2300m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens are on the wing in April and June-July. There are probably other flight months.

Larvae possibly feed on oak species.

Hirpida junopascoensis female, Junin, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
significant digital repair and id by Bill Oehlke

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

The species name is indicative of known range in Junin and Pasco, Peru.

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

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

Return to Hirpida Genus

Return to South American Saturniidae Direcotry

Return to Main WLSS Index