DISTRIBUTION:

Scolesa viettei (wingspan: males: 56-74mm; females: 67-80mm) flies in
southeastern Brazil: Espirito Santo; Rio de Janeiro; Parana (CM); Minas Gerais (LV); Sao Paulo; Santa Catarina (CM); Rio do Sul; Rio Grande do Sul at elevations from 1000-1700m, possibly as low as 920m.

Ulf Drechsel reports them from Paraguay: Guaira, Caazapa, southern Alto Parana, and (possibly (now confirmed-PS)) Itapua and southern Caaguazu.

Scolesa viettei, Guaira, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

Male forewing is slightly less elongated as compared to leucantha; otherwise, examination of the genitalia is required for identification.

Scolesa viettei moth courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel, id by Carlos Mielke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are probably (??) three broods annually in late January (LV)-February-March and then again in July and in September-October.

In Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, moths are confirmed on the wing January-March, May and August-October, suggesting at least three annual broods.

Scolesa viettei male, 68mm, Urubici, Santa Catarina, Brazil, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

Larval hosts are unknown.

Scolesa viettei male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 31, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, might be Scolesa leucantha.

Scolesa viettei male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 31, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, might be Scolesa leucantha.

Scolesa viettei male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 31, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, might be Scolesa leucantha.

Claude Lemaire writes that examination of genitalia is sometimes necessary to distinguish S. viettei from S. leucantha. He does not list either from southeastern Minas Gerais, but he does list both from neighboring states, with S. leucantha having a slightly more elongate forewing.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Scolesa viettei moths emerge from subterrranean pupae. Females probably call from 10:30 pm until 12:30 am and then make their ovipositing flights over the next several nights.

Scolesa viettei female, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Eggs are translucent and development can be seen through eggshells.

Newly emerged larvae are particularly well adorned with thoracic "horns".

Mature larvae leave the foodplant to pupate in subterranean chambers.

Scolesa viettei, San Rafael, Itapua, Paraguay,
March and September 2008, courtesy of Paul Smith.

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.

I do not know the meaning of or reason for the genus name "Scolesa".

The species name "viettei" is honourific for Viette (probably Pierre).

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I am not sure of the identity of the following specimens, but I do believe they are of the Scolesa genus:

Scolesa male, Brazil, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Scolesa female, Brazil, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.