DISTRIBUTION:

Hirpida levis (forewing length: males: 30-33mm; females: 34mm) flies at high elevations in
Peru: Apurimac, Amazonas, and possibly as far south as Huanuco (2700-3500m).

Based on recent (2010) DNA barcoding analysis, I have corrected the identification of the moths depicted above from Hidripa levis to Hidripa levopascoensis. At the time that Bernhard Wenczel sent the image, H. levopascoensis had not been described.

H. levis is probably restricted to higher elevations (3200-3500m) in Apurimac and Amazonas, Peru, while H. levopascoensis flies at elevations of 1800-2800m in Pasco, Junin and Huanuco, Peru. H. levocuscoensis flies at elevations of 2400-2790m in Cusco, Peru.

The forewing lines in H. levopascoensis are wide bands of drab greenish-yellow (male) to pale greenish-brown (female), whereas in both H. levis and H. levocuscoensis, the same lines/bands are pale yellow and not nearly as wide.

Hidripa levopascoensis has a rosy ground colour while the other two species have light brown basal and median areas and an even lighter post median area.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing from December-March, again in June, followed by what appears to be a third brood in September. Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Females are likely most active between 10:30 and 11:00 pm, males from 11:00 pm until 1:00 am.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hirpida levis 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 foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

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