Biology:Euclea gajentaani

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Short description: Costa Rican moth

Euclea gajentaani
Euclea gajentaani in Alajuela, Costa Rica.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Limacodidae
Genus: Euclea
Species:
E. gajentaani
Binomial name
Euclea gajentaani
(Epstein & Corrales, 2004)[1]

Euclea gajentaani is a moth in the family Limacodidae (the slug caterpillar moths). The species was first described by entomologists Marc Epstein and Jorge Corrales in 2004. The species was named for Henricus Gajentaan, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Costa Rica.[1]

Range

Euclea gajentaani has only been observed in Costa Rica between 700 and 1200m on the Caribbean slope.[1][2]

Life cycle

Larva

This is a colorful yellow-green caterpillar with five oval spots on its back, with patches of spines typical of Euclea caterpillars.[1][2]

Adult

Euclea gajentaani is a red-brown moth with a forewing length of 10.5–12.0mm in males and 16.0mm in females. Adults of Euclea gajentaani cannot be separated from Euclea diversa without dissection and analysis of genitalia, though the two species seem to be allopatric.[1]

Host plants

This species has been found feeding on a variety of plants including Ocotea insularis, Andira inermis, Machaerium acuminatum, Inga oerstediana, and Quassia amara.[2]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q21267121 entry