Euclea gajentaani
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]
| Euclea gajentaani | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| 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] | |
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
- Epstein, Marc; Corrales, Jorge (27 October 2004). "Twenty-five new species of Costa Rican Limacodidae (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea)". Zootaxa. 701 (1): 1–86. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.701.1.1. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- Janzen, D.H.; Hallwachs, W. "Caterpillars, pupae, butterflies & moths of the ACG". Retrieved 21 April 2022.