DISTRIBUTION:

Hirpida olgae (wingspan: males: 64-66mm; females: probably larger // forewing length: males: 33-34mm; females: probably larger) flies in
Venezuela: Merida, at elevations around 750m.

Based on Entomo-Satsphingia image, the basal area has a heavy suffusion of light, rosy-white scales, followed by an am line consisting of a wide band of much darker rosy-brown. The median area is somewhat constricted and is also a light, rosy-white with a small black dot for a cell mark. Generally this moth is lacking the charcoal grey lines found in similar species.

The pm line is a very straight, dark, rosy-brown line followed by a suffusion of slightly lighter brown scales, filling the pm area to the scalloped subterminal line. Most of the subterminal area is also heavily suffused with rosy-white, with a darker brown marginal area. broadest just below the apex which is very slightly produced. The female is unknown.

The HT male was originally submitted for barcoding analysis as Hirpida choba, but this species is quite distinct from choba, and is very worthy of the new designation.

Hirpida nigrolinea male, Cosanga, Napo, Ecuador,
April 2005, courtesy of Horst Kach, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

The specimen from Cosanga, Napo, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach, is very similar to H. cuscolinea from Cusco, Peru, and also to H. olgae from Merida, Venezueala. I am going to place in on both of those pages as well.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens are on the wing in May. There are probably other flight months.

Larvae possibly feed on oak species.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Females are likely most active right after dusk. The male, above, was taken early in the evening.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters on hostplant foliage.

Hirpida olgae larvae are highly gregarious and have the urticating spines typical of larvae from the Subfamily Hemileucinae.

The species name "olgae" is honourific for Olga Bezverkhoza, daughter of collector Yury Bezverkhova.

Larval Food Plants

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

Quercus.......

Oak

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