DISTRIBUTION:

Hylesia murex (wingspan: males: 34-39mm; females: 42-52mm) flies in
Surinam: Marowijne;
Trinidad: ;
French Guiana: L'Oyopok, Camopi, Kaw, Cayenne, Regina, Nancibo, Coralie, Kourou, Sinnamary, Barrage Petit Saut, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni;
Venezuela: Bolivar, Amazonas; and
Brazil: Para, Amazonas.

This species has been taken at elevations from 20m to 1200m.

Markings are generally weak, and lines tend to be whitish. Am has strong angulation on the cubitus.

Hylesia murex male, ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, St. George, Trinidad,
March 24, 2015, approx.400m, courtesy of Steve Nanz.

Hylesia murex male, Kaw, French Guiana,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larval hosts are unknown.

Specimens have been taken in January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November and December in French Guiana.

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 murex larvae probably 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 "murex".

The following image(s) may or may not appear on your monitor, depending upon whether or not I get permission from respective photographers/owners to display them. I do have permission for my own private use.

Hylesia murex male, Kaw, French Guiana,
July 10, 1997, collection of Rodolphe Rougeri, photo copyright Rene Lehousse,
French Guiana Systematique.

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