DISTRIBUTION:

The Molippa simillima moth (wingspan: males: 58(NV)-62-79mm; females: 72-93mm // froewing length: males: 35-40mm; females: ) flies in
Brazil: Minas Gerais: Rio Acrima (BM), Parana, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul; Rio Grande do Norte?? (FO) and in
French Guiana: Kaw, St. Elie;
Venezuela: Bolivar;
Colombia: Huila and El Putumayo;
Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo, Tungurahua and Morana Santiago and possibly Pastaza; in
Peru: Amazonas (LTR), San Martin, Huanuco, Junin, Pasco, Cusco and Madre de Dios;
Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba, Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz;
Argentina: Salta, Jujuy: Calilegua, 750m (NV) and Tucuman and probably Misiones (see larvae bottom of page); and in
Paraguay: UD: Presidente Hayes, Canindeyu, Cordillera, Caaguazu, Paraguari, Guaira, Alto Parana, and possibly Caazapa and Itapua.

Visit Peru: Molippa Chart.

This species has been taken at elevations ranging for 175m to 2000m. Vladimir Izersky reports Molippa simillima at 1050m in Rio Venado, Junin, Peru, January 26, 2008.

Molippa simillima, Huanuco, Peru, courtesy of Juan Chavez.

Ulf Drechsel has sent the following image from Paraguay. I believe it is Molippa simillima, although it was posted as M. nibasa. The latter species has a more northerly range, so I think m. simillima is more likely for Paraguay. The narrower hindwing ocellus with a more diffuse black outline is also quite suggestive of M. flavodiosiana. The smaller, darker forewing cell marks are also suggestive of flavodiosiana.

Molippa simillima/flavodiosiana ??, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

Molippa simillima/flavodiosiana, Itabo Itaipu, Alto Parana, Paraguay,
Atlantic Forest habitat, November 4, 2008, courtesy of Paul Smith.

Examination of genitalia is required to distinguish this species from Molippa nibasa.

Molippa simillima, male, Peru, courtesy of Viktor Suter.

Molippa flavopiurica/simillima?? male, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Other than by location or DNA barcoding analysis, it is probably next to impossible to distinguish flavopiurica from simillima. The Eric van Schayck image directly above, without more specific location than "Peru" could be either. Both have relatively wide, thinly outlined, almost concolorous hindwing ocelli.

Flavotegana and flavodiosiana have thinner, more diffusely and darker outlined hindwing ocelli.

Molippa simillima male, Venezuela,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Flight times vary from year to year, but coincide with the rainy season. In Brazil records exist for January-May, and August, and October-November, suggesting at least three broods if the moth is widespread. Lemaire reports a univoltine pattern in the three states he confirms. Paul Smith reports a November flight in Alto Parana, Paraguay. Nigel venters reports a November flight in Calilegua, Jujuy, Argentina. Steve Ife reports a March flight in Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador.

Larvae feed on Mimosa in the wild and have been reared on willow in captivity.

Molippa simillima female courtesy of Dan Janzen, probably M. nibasa.

Molippa simillima, female, Peru, courtesy of Viktor Suter.

Molippa simillima female, Venezuela,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Molippa simillima female, Rio Acrima, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
August 15, 2018, courtesy of Bruno Moraes.

I think the following image is of a female Molippa simillima, but it would represent a great extension of the known range of this species into northeastern Brazil. It might be something undescribed.

Molippa simillima?? female, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
July 31, 2020, courtesy of Francierlem Oliviera, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of their abdomens to "call" the males. Males use their antennae to hone in on the airbourne pheromone.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE: Larvae are highly gregarious and have urticating spines. Mimosa, willows and possibly oaks are larval hosts.

Molipa simillima Peru, courtesy of Viktor Suter.

The above image is a perfect match for Lemaire's description of M. simillima: head, all legs, and paranal shield all black, and cream-coloured spiracular circles black; integumen black with yellow stripes and markings. Thus, I am treating all of Viktor's images from Peru as true M. simillima.

A red head and red legs and paranal shield are supposedly diagnostic of M. nibasa.

Molippa simillima, fifth instar, Misiones, Argentina,
courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

The legs appear to be dark red to burgundy instead of black, but I am not aware of any other Molippa species from Argentina that are similar.

Molippa simillima fifth instar, Rancho Grande, Carabobo, Venezuela,
May 15, 2010, courtesy of Geert Goemans

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.

Mimosa Quercus ??? Salix caprea.....

Mimosa Oak ??? Goat Willow

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Molippa simillima male, Junin, Peru,
on my home computer only.