DISTRIBUTION:

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis (wingspan: males: mm; females: 85-89mm / forewing length: males: 30-36mm; females: 42-44 mm) flies in
Bolivia: La Paz: North Yungas; Beni;
Ecuador: Ecuador: Napo: Rio Holland; Orellana; Pastaza: Santa Clara (AC);
Peru: San Martin: Rioja; Madre de Dios: Salvasion; Amazonas: Bagua; Montenegro; Pasco: Santa Rosa; Bajo Capiro; Shank; Cusco: San Pedro; Junin; Huanuco; probably Puno.

Possibly this moth would also fly in southern Colombia. Specimens have been taken at elevations of 300-1800m.

Males show considerable variation with regard to yellow suffusions in median and post median areas as well as the amount of black in the forewing cell, as evidenced by the following series of males from Bolivia, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens and G. Lecourt.

The black hindwing marginal band is not nearly as smooth or as wide as in H. nausica males where the hindwing ocellus nestles almost up against the median band.

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis males, Bolivia, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens and G. Lecourt.

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis male, Peru, courtesy of Zak van Looke,
id by Bill Oehlke

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis male, Santa Clara, Pastaza, Ecuador,
courtesy of Alex Cahurel

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis male, 68mm, Amazonas, Peru,
Entomo Satsphingia Jahrgang 3, Heft 5, 18.11, 2010; on my home computer only

Please note: The advent of DNA barcoding has resulted in many new descriptions (approximately 200 "new" Saturniidae species, 2010; many more 2011-2013). In many cases the "new" species are quite similar to existing species. Do not be surprised if more refined testing or revisions of "thresholds of difference" result in some synonymies or even more species/subspecies designations. Subsequent rearing may or may not indicate differences in larval appearance. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis male, Ecuador, courtesy of Uwe Kauz,
id by Bill Oehlke

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis male, Ecuador, courtesy of Uwe Kauz,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis male, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There probably at least two generations annually with peak flights in February and July.

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis larvae probably eat Berberis lauina, Cassia corymbosa, Celtis spinosa, Fagus, Ficus benjamina, Laburnum, Platanus orientalis, Quercus, Quercus ilex and Serjania.

Uwe Kaus reports success rearing larvae on Fagus, European Beech.

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis female, Peru,
courtesy or Eric van Schayck,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis female, Bolivia,
courtesy or Thibaud Decaens & G. Lecourt.

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis female, 85mm, Amazonas, Peru,
Entomo Satsphingia Jahrgang 3, Heft 5, 18.11, 2010; on my home computer only

Visit the Hyperchiria nausica Group to see a comparison plate covering the eleven species listed by Brechlin and Meister, 2013, as belonging to the Hyperchiria nausica Group, which has species where the iris of the hindwing ocellus is orange.

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis, Huanuco Province, Peru, courtesy of Juan Chavez.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use well-developed antennae to seek out females which scent at night.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Typical of species in the Genus Hyperchiria and the Subfamily Hemileucinae, the larvae are armed with urticating spines.

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis first or second?? instars on European Beech, Ecuador,
courtesy of Uwe Kauz, id by Bill Oehlke

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis third?? instars on European Beech, Ecuador,
courtesy of Uwe Kauz, id by Bill Oehlke

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis third or fourth?? instars on European Beech, Ecuador,
courtesy of Uwe Kauz, id by Bill Oehlke

Hyperchiria nausioccidentalis fifth instars on European Beech, Ecuador,
courtesy of Uwe Kauz, id by Bill Oehlke

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplants will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Berberis lauina Cassia corymbosa ....... Celtis spinosa Fagus Ficus benjamina Laburnum Platanus orientalis Quercus Quercus ilex Serjania

Barberry Autumn senna Hackberry Beech Benjamin tree Bean tree Oriental sycamore Oak Holly/Holm oak Serjania

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