DISTRIBUTION:

Travassosula chuquisaciana (forewing length: males: 22mm) flies in
Bolivia: Chuquisaca, at elevations of 1200-1600m.

This species is very similar to T. subfumata from southeastern Brazil, but T. chuquisaciana tends to be darker grey-brown with darker grey to black markings and suffusions. Specimens from Bolivia previously thought to be T. subfumata are more likely to be the recently described T. chuquisaciana. Possibly T. subfumata is limited to southeastern Brazil.

The indentation about the midpoint of the hindwing costa seems deeper in chuquisaciana and is almost surrounded by a projection emanating from the inner edge of the costa opening toward the apex. In subfumata the indentation is shallower and unobstructed.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in February-March. There are probably additional flight months.

The larval host is unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably laid in rings of 25-35 eggs/ring.

Pupation is probably in a shallow underground chamber or under loose debris.

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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Travassosula" chosen by Michener in 1949, but it is probably honourific for Travassos.

The species name "chuquisaciana" is indicative of a specimen type locale in Chuquisaca, Bolivia.

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