DISTRIBUTION:

Schausiella polybia (wingspan: males: 68-85mm; females: 105mm) flies in
Suriname: Brokopondo District: Brownsberg (JvB);
French Guiana: Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Kaw;
Guyana: Kartabo;
Venezuela: Boliva and Monagas;
Brazil: Amapa, Para and Amazonas and
Ecuador: Marona-Santiago. I suspect it also flies in southeastern Colombia and northeastern Peru. Racheli and Racheli confirm it in Peru: Amazonas.

The outer margin of the forewing is slightly convex and the antemedial line is straighter than in arpi.

Schausiella polybia male, Kaw, French Guiana,
March 31, 2011, courtesy of Andres Urbas.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Schausiella polybia moths are on the wing in January. Andres Urbas reports a March 31, 2011, flight in Kaw, French Guiana. Johan van't Bosch reports a July 7, 2011, flight, in Brownsberg, Brokopondo District, Suriname, July 7, 2011.

Schausiella polybia, Brownsberg, Brokopondo District, Suriname,
July 7, 2011, courtesy of Johan van't Bosch, id by Bill Oehlke.

Schausiella polybia female, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

Schausiella polybia?? female??, Quiriquire, Monagas, Venezuela,
courtesy of Cornell University Collection, via Ryan Saint Laurent,
digital repair (right hindwing copied to left side) and id by Bill Oehlke.

Despite what appears to be a male antenna still affixed to the moth depicted above, I feel it is more likely a female, possibly with an earlier "repair job", or possibly polybia females have partially quadripectinate antennae. The very broady pre-apical pm line is highly suggestive of a female polybia as is the overall wing shape, but it could be a male or something else.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female Schausiella polybia moths attract the more colourful males at night with an airbourne pheromone. This scent is distributed into the wind from a structure extended from the tip of the abdomen. Males fly into the wind in a zigzag fashion and use their antennae, bipectinate for the basal two-thirds, to locate the "calling" females. This male antennae structure is definitive for the Ceratocampinae. Females begin their ovipositing flights at dusk after mating the previous night.

Schausiella polybia male, French Guiana, courtesy of Carlot Didier.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Typical of most Ceratocampinae, the eggs are slightly flattened, yellow and translucent.

After just a few days, the developing embryos can be seen through the egg shells. Incubation time of eight days is typcial.

Larvae emerge with well developed thoracic spikes and thrash about when disturbed. Packaging within the egg shell must be quite efficient to allow for such magnificent development.

The spines practically disappear in the final instar and larvae become very chunky. Larvae descend tree trunks and excavate subterranean chambers in which to pupate.

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.

The genus name "Schausiella" is probably ?? honourific for Schaus.

I do not know the reason for the species name "polybia". Polybia is used as the genus name for a group of wasps, and it is a Roman surname.