Introduction

The Pyrginae, popularly known as Flats or Spreadwings, are a cosmopolitan subfamily distributed across temperate and tropical habitats throughout the world. In the Americas there are 990 species.

The genus Potamanaxas comprises of 15 known species, distributed variously from Nicaragua to Bolivia. Potamanaxas effusa is fairly typical of the genus. All Potamanaxas species have an earthy brown ground colour, with white or yellowish markings. In some species such as flavofasciata these are limited to just a small patch on the forewings. At the other extreme the Ecuadorian taxon bana is extensively marbled with white across both wings.

Potamanaxas effusa is distributed from Panama to Guyana, and along the eastern Andes to Peru.

Habitats

This species inhabits transitional rainforest / cloudforest at altitudes between about 200-1500m.

Lifecycle

Potamanaxas larvae are green with brown heads. They live solitarily within a shelter constructed by silking together leaves of the foodplants, which are Sphyrospermun and other Ericaceae.

Adult behaviour

To be completed.

Introduction

There are about 260 species in the genus Automeris. The forewings of most species are brownish, marked with dark lines; and usually have a dark blotch at the end of the discal cell. When they are at rest, with the hindwings concealed, they are convincing dead leaf mimics. Some species instead have greyish forewings mottled or marbled with darker tones, providing them with a very effective bark-like camouflage when they are at rest on tree trunks. The hindwings of most species feature large conspicuous false eyes, set against a yellowish or orange ground colour.

Habitats

This species was found in transitional cloudforest at an altitudes of about 900m.

Lifecycle

The larvae of most Automeris species are bright green, marked laterally with dashes or stripes of red ( or orange ) and white. Along the back and sides are rows of multi-branched stinging spines, each like a miniature Xmas tree. When young the larvae feed gregariously, but they gradually disperse and become solitary by the final instar.

Most Automeris species are polyphagous – e.g. the known foodplants of Automeris io include such unrelated pabula as Salix, Quercus, Hibiscus, Azalea, Prunus, Trifolium and Euterpe.

Adult behaviour

If the moths are disturbed they immediately drop to the ground and uncover their hindwings to reveal the startling eye-spots. At the same time they usually arch their abdomens, and twitch violently, thrusting the hindwings and their eye-spots forward in a series of rhythmical movements. The effect on humans is usually to recoil in shock. Birds probably react in a similar manner, and in many cases are so startled or scared that the moths escape being eaten.

Introduction

The subfamily Geometrinae is represented worldwide, and includes dozens of genera of small green moths. The neotropical genera include Oospila, Phrudocentra, Racheospila, Rhodochlora, Synchlora, Tachyphyle and Tachychlora.

There are just over 30 known Synchlora species, variously distributed from Canada to Argentina. All have a similar wing shape. Most have an emerald green ground colour, with small dark discal spots and faint wavy transverse lines. The most striking characteristic however is the wing fringes, which are chequered in white and dark red. In all species the costa and antennae are also white, and most species also have white blotches on the abdomen. A few species including gerularia and xysteraria have large brown marginal blotches similar to those of certain Oospila species.

Synchlora tenuimargo is a common species distributed from Mexico to Peru.

Habitats

This species inhabits cloudforest at elevations between about 400-2000m.

Lifecycle

To be completed.

Adult behaviour

The adults rest during the daytime underneath leaves, holding their wings outspread.