DISTRIBUTION:

Hemileuca mania (wingspan: males: 50-54mm; females: 61-74mm) flies in Veracruz and Chiapas along the east slope of the Cordillera Oriental in
Mexico.

Hemileuca mania male, 50mm, Chiapas, Mexico,
courtesy of Cornell University Collection, via Ryan Saint Laurent.

Hemileuca mania male, San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico,
June 9, 2013, courtesy of Lauren Zarate via Ryan Saint-Laurent.

Hemileuca mania male, San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico,
June 9, 2013, courtesy of Lauren Zarate via Ryan Saint-Laurent.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January, April-May and June-July, suggesting at least two annual broods.

Larvae feed on pasture grasses. Zea mays is a reported host.

Hemileuca mania male (Mexico),
courtesy of Dr. Manuel A. Balcazar Lara

Hemileuca mania male, San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico,
June 9, 2013, courtesy of Lauren Zarate via Ryan Saint-Laurent.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Eclosions probably take place in the morning with females calling from 9:00 am until 10:00 am.

Hemileuca mania male, San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico,
June 9, 2013, courtesy of Lauren Zarate via Ryan Saint-Laurent.

Hemileuca mania male (verso), San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico,
June 9, 2013, courtesy of Lauren Zarate via Ryan Saint-Laurent.

Hemileuca mania female, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico,
Claude lemaire, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably laid in rings of 25-35 eggs/ring.

Pupation is in a shallow underground chamber or under loose debris.

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.

Zea mays........

Corn

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