Praeamastus albipuncta Hampson

 

 Family: Erebidae

Subfamily: Arctiinae

Tribe: Arctiini

Subtribe: Phaegopterina

Host plants:

  • Saurauia bullosa (Actinidaceae)
  • Anthurium sp. (Araceae)
  • Baccaris sp. (Asteraceae)
  • Brunnelia sp. (Brunneliaceae)
  • Erythrina edulis (Fabaceae)
  • Tibouchina lepidota (Melastomataceae)
  • Rubus sp. (Rosaceae)
  • Smilax sp. (Smilacaceae)
  • Boemeria pavonni (Urticaceae)
  • Cytharexylum sp. (Verbenaceae)

 

 

 

Collection site: Various, Napo Province

 

Female (dorsal view)

 

Female (ventral view)

Photos & Determinations of adults: Suzanne Rab Green
Photos of immatures: CAPEA collections

 

LIFE HISTORY DATA


         
         

Caterpillar common name:


      
 
"Cara puntas glenn plake"

         
         

Caterpillar behavior & description:


      
 
At least 5 other caterpillars with the same morphology and setal arrangements, but different (sometimes quite different) coloration, have been collected from the same host plants as P. albipuncta. The adults are likewise similar and generally identified as P. albipuncta. It is still unknown if these are different species or if P. albipuncta has variably colored larvae. The adults are very similar in basic morphology to other species of the genera Praeamastus and Amastus spp. Their ambulatory behavior and the way that they hold their wings; folded, overlapping, on their backs, gives them the silhouette of a very large vespid wasp.

 

Rearing results and development time:

         
 
 

         
         

Host plants:


      

 

  • Saurauia bullosa (Actinidaceae)
  • Anthurium sp. (Araceae)
  • Baccaris sp. (Asteraceae)
  • Brunnelia sp. (Brunneliaceae)
  • Erythrina edulis (Fabaceae)
  • Tibouchina lepidota (Melastomataceae)
  • Rubus sp. (Rosaceae)
  • Smilax sp. (Smilacaceae)
  • Boemeria pavonni (Urticaceae)
  • Cytharexylum sp. (Verbenaceae)


         
         

Parasitoids:


      
We have reared tachinids and meteorine braconids from this species. The tachinid develops internally in the larva and emerges from the host pupa to pupate away from the host; up to 17 braconids develop internally and pupate away from the host larva.

 

Predators:

         

Collection sites:

 
Caterpillars were collected inside primary forests, partially reforested pastures and next to roads along an altitudinal transect from 400m (Tena) to 3500m (Papallacta) in the vicinity of the Yanayacu Biological Station and Center for Creative Studies (YBS: S 00° 35.9' W 77° 53.4': 2100 m), 5km west of Cosanga, Napo province of eastern Ecuador.  

 

Voucher locations & numbers:

 
@ American Museum of Natural History : : 21049
@ University of Nevada Reno (UNR): n.a.

 

Adult identification status:

Dissections:

Compared with type collection @BMNH, collections @ , MNHN, USNM.

No previous dissections by authors or subsequent taxonomists.

 

Original description of adult:

 
Hampson, G. F. 1901. Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalaenae in the British Museum 3: 136. London.

 

Type locality:

 
Venezuela: Type specimen was collected by Wilhelm Karl Moritz (1797-1866) in the German colony of Tovar, Venezuela, probably in the period 1840-66. It was later sold to Sommer, from there to the firm of Staudinger/Bang-Haas (dealers/auctioneers) and was then purchased by the BMNH in 1901.

 

 

Known distribution range:

ML> DY>