DISTRIBUTION:

The Hylesia mortifex moth (wingspan: males: 41-44mm; females: probably larger) flies in northern coastal Venezuela.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larval hosts are unknown.

Records exist for July-September and December-February flight. I believe there is also a March flight in Trinidad, based on images directly below.

Hylesia mortifex male, ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, St. George, Trinidad,
March 23, 2015, approx.400m, courtesy of Steve Nanz.

Hylesia mortifex male, ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, St. George, Trinidad,
March 23, 2015, approx.400m, courtesy of Steve Nanz.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hylesia mortifex 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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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

I do not know the origin of the genus name Hylesia.

I do not know the reason for the species name "mortifex".