LIFE HISTORY DATA

Rearing results and development time

As of Oct. 2001, N=10: 3 eclosed 7 were parasitized 

Time as pupa: 21-23 days (N=2)

Host plants

 Moraceae: Castilla elastica, Brosimum lactescens, Ficus colubrinae

Parasitoids

Tachinidae:

Braconidae: Cotesia sp. hyperparasitized by a eulophid species.

Predators

Observations and comments

We have found 2 morphs of this caterpillar, a blue-green morph and a lichen colored morph. As with Pachylia syces, the larvae usually hide during the day and feed at dusk and at night.

The braconids emerge simultaneously in the hundreds or thousands and spin their cocoons in such a fashion that they end up in a large mass, wherein a cocoon, if it were isolated, would stand out from the caterpillar like the spoke of a wheel. Their eulophid hyperparasitoids attack them while they are spinning their cocoons. As in the case of Errinyis ello, the caterpillar does not move during emergence or pupation of the parasitoids. After pupation is complete, the caterpillar pulls itself free and crawls away to die elsewhere, leaving a hollow, tubelike, spongy mass of cocoons.

Voucher location

 Tulane University