Hemileuca marillia
Updated as per personal communication with Ryan Saint Laurent (Smithsonian Type image); January 17, 2014

Hemileuca marillia
Dyar, (1911)

Hemileuca marillia male, type,
The Smithsonian Insect Collection (USNM) courtesy of Ryan St. Laurent

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Hemileuca, Walker, 1855

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DISTRIBUTION:

Hemileuca marillia (wingspan: males: 50mm; females: 60mm) flies in
Mexico: Puebla; Tlaxala.

This species is very similar to H. mexicana, and examination of genitalia is necessary to distinguish the two species. Lemaire indicates the genitalia show significant differences.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in December.

Larvae and their hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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.

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