Hylesia - overview of genus

This genus consists of a large number of very similar species which, with few exceptions, are extremely difficult to identify without genitalial dissection. I have captured what appear to be five species to date from Belize, of which only one (H. lineata) is at all characteristic - at least in the male. These species are illustrated on this website as "Hylesia sp. indet 1" and so forth.

Meerman (1999) lists the following species from Belize:
H. lineata Druce
H. acuta Druce
H. dalina Schaus
H. frigida Schaus
H. umbratula Dyar
H. continua Walker
H. nr. tinturex Schaus
(plus one other species apparently close to H. mexicana Druce).

It is highly likely that my illustrated specimens can be matched up to some of these names in the future.

| BACK TO SPECIES LIST |