Moths of the Amazon
and Andes
Swallow-tailed moth
Nepheloleuca complicata
GUEN�E, 1857
Superfamily - GEOMETROIDEA
Family - GEOMETRIDAE
subfamily - ENNOMINAE
Tribe -
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Nepheloleuca complicata,
female, Rondonia, Brazil �
Adrian Hoskins |
Introduction
Worldwide there are in excess of 20,000 species in the family
Geometridae, of which about 10,000 are placed in the subfamily
Ennominae. About 3,400 Ennomine moths occur in the neotropical
region where they are represented by 267 genera.
The genus
Nepheloleuca includes 12 species, all of similar appearance,
but varying in ground colour and with minor variation in the
markings. The species are found variously from the southern United
States to Bolivia.
Nepheloleuca complicata
occurs in the Caribbean on the islands of Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti;
and in South America from Panama to Peru.
Habitats
Lowland rainforest and mid-elevation cloudforest below about 1800
metres.
Lifecycle
To be completed.
Adult behaviour
Attracted to mercury vapour and tungsten lighting.
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