DISTRIBUTION:

Neorcarnegia basirei basirei (wingspan: males: 54-73mm; females: 75-105mm // forewing length: males: ; females: 42.8-44.2mm) flies in central and
southeastern Brazil: (Bahia; Goias; Mato Grosso; probably N. bispinosa); Rio de Janeiro; Parana (CM); southeastern Minas Gerais (LV); Sao Paulo; Santa Catarina; Rio Grande do Sul; and
eastern ?? Bolivia: Santa Cruz; Chuquisaca more likely N. bispinosa in Bolivia.

Pablo Wagner confirms it in Misiones province, Argentina, 2004. Nigel venters has sent images from Calilegua, Jujuy Province, Argentina. I have posted them to the Neorcargnegia bispinosa page because of geography. Perhaps there will be some clarification in the coming years as to geographic distinctions betweeen basirei and bispinosa. I am guessing basirei is in southeastern Brazil and northeastern Argentina, while it is bispinosa found in other areas.

It also flies in
Paraguay (confirmed by Stefan Naumann): (department sightings courtesy of Ulf Drechsel): San Pedro, Canindeyu, Caaguazu, Cordillera, Paraguari, Alto Parana, Guaira, and possibly Caazapa and and (Itapua: confirmed Neorcarnegia basirei female, San Rafael NP, Itapua, Paul Smith.)

The specimens from Bolivia and from Bahia, Mato Grosso and Goias, Brazil, are more likely the recently (2006) described species N. bispinosa which has "a slightly more greyish ground colour, less falcate forewings in male and female and less elongated tips of the hindwing inner angle in males, larger size of the transparent parts of fore- and hindwings, and mainly in details of male genitalia (two sclerites on the vessica instead of one in N. basirei)" Naumann, 2006".

Neorcarnegia basirei (male), Brazil, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Neorcarnegia basirei male, January 28, 1999,
Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Paul Smith reports a female on the wing in Itapua, Paraguay, early March 2008.

Larry Valentine confirms a January 16, 2012 flight in Itanhand, southeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

In Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, moths are on the wing in January, October and December, suggesting at least two annual broods, with larvae feeding uponm Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae, Fabaceae: Faboideae.

Visit Neorcarnegia basirei basirei female, recto and verso, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, January 16, 2012; and male recto and verso, February 22, 2013, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

Neorcarnegia basirei basirei feed on Caesalpinia ferrea, Cassia and Machaerium acutifolium.

Neorcarnegia basirei basirei courtesy of Andreas Riekert.

Neorcarnegia basirei basirei female, Paraguay, courtesy/copyright Ulf Drechsel.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female Neorcarnegia basirei basirei moths extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in the males.

Neorcarnegia basirei (female), Brazil, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Neorcarnegia basirei female, January 28, 1999,
Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Neorcarnegia basirei first instar, Itapua, Paraguay, March 10, 2008,
courtesy of Bernard Oosterbaan and Paul Smith and Fauna Paraguay.

Neorcarnegia basirei courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie.

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.

Caesalpinia ferrea Cassia Machaerium acutifolium......

Leopard Tree Cassia Bastiao-de-arruda

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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.

Stefan Naumann indicates the genus name "Neorcarnegia" was chosen by Draudt "reminiscent to the African genus carnegia Holland, 1896 which has some similarities in wing form and pattern (Bouvier 1931: 108)."

The species name "basirei" is probably honourific for a collector?? named Basire.

Neorcarnegia basirei/bispinosa ?? moth.

I do not know the location for the specimen immediately above, but the forewings seem less falcate than expected for basirei.