![Trichophassus (Phassus) giganteus - Ghost Moth / Swift Moth / Mariposa-Fantasma (Herrich-Schäffer, [1853]) Lepidoptera: Glossata: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae<br />
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VERSÃO EM PORTUGUÊS AQUI: <a href="http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1691062553" rel="nofollow">http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1691062553</a><br />
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Wingspan: Somewhere between 160mm and 170mm.<br />
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Larvae of Hepialidae are covered in thin, short setae and possess elongated heads. The larvae of Hepialids can be root, stalk and branch drillers, whilst others are mycophagous. Some species feed on fallen leaves, others on moss (as well), decaying vegetable matter, etc. They can dig tunnels in the soil to hide; these tunnels are covered in silk, including the entrance, which is covered in vegetable matter mixed with silk. Some species live on tree trunks and cover themselves with silk before beginning to tunnel. Once protected, they begin digging the tunnel that will serve them as shelter on the tree trunk. Similarly to those that dig in the soil, the tree trunk dwellers will cover the entrance of the tunnel with vegetable matter. According to the English version Hepialidae article on Wikipedia (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepialidae)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepialidae)</a>, Hepialids are considered primitive moths, with many of their traits being different than those of other moths such as short antennae and non-functional proboscis or frenulum. The sperm is transferred to the egg through an external channel between the ostium and the ovipore. Despite their size, strictly speaking, they are too basal and constitute Microlepidoptera but some entities prefer to place them under Macrolepidoptera, even though they are too archaic. Many species display strong sexual dimorphism.<br />
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Males swarm when daylight is reduced during the crepuscular hours and the females are attracted to chemical stimuli. Concerning Trichophassus giganteus, a single female can carry 10.000 eggs and the embryonic development takes 28 days. A few species of Hepialidae can carry 50.000 eggs, which are expelled and scattered during flight with no specific target.<br />
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Trichophassus is a monotypical genus consisting of a single species, giganteus. According to the source "Borboletas e Mariposas de Santa Catarina" there are 17 species (18 are mentioned, but one of them, Argyrotome mira, is wrongly placed there as it is a Geometrid) of Hepialids described to the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil, but there may be more that I'm unaware of:<br />
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Aepytus munoa (Schaus, 1929) - Santa Catarina<br />
Aepytus guarani (Pfitzner, 1914) - Santa Catarina, São Bento do Sul<br />
Aepytus tupi (Mielke & Grehan, 2015) - São Bento do Sul<br />
Cibyra dorita (Schaus, 1901) - Santa Catarina<br />
Cibyra ferrugisona (Walker, 1856) - São Bento do Sul<br />
Cibyra ybyta (Mielke, 2015) - Urubici, São Joaquim<br />
Cybira meridionalis (Mielke & Casagrande, 2013) - São Bento do Sul, Urubici, São Joaquim<br />
Cibyra monoargenteus (Viette, 1951) - São Bento do Sul, Urubici<br />
Cibyra munona (Schaus, 1929) - Santa Catarina<br />
Cibyra ochracea (Mielke, 2014) - São Bento do Sul<br />
Cibyra stigmatica (Pfitzner, 1937) - São Bento do Sul<br />
Cibyra verresi (Schaus, 1929) - Santa Catarina<br />
Cibyra ykeyra (Mielke, 2015) - São Bento do Sul<br />
Roseala tessellatus (Herrich-Schäffer, [1853]) - Joaçaba, Santa Catarina<br />
Vietteogorgopis katharinae (Pfitzner, 1914) - Santa Catarina<br />
Schaefferiana epigramma (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) - São Bento do Sul<br />
Trichophassus giganteus (Herrich-Schäffer, [1853]) - Joaçaba, Benedito Novo, Santa Catarina<br />
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If you have any additions to the list, feel free to contribute.<br />
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According to their English article on Wikipedia, the larvae of Trichophassus giganteus were documented feeding on Adenocalyma, Eucalyptus, Ipomoea and Solanum. Their wingspan lies somewhere around 160mm to 170mm, being the largest Hepialid in South America. Their appearance might be a display of camouflage (<a href="http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12797038)#!# and mimicry (#!#http://www.dacnis.org.br/tarantula_moth.pdf)" rel="nofollow">http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12797038)#!# and mimicry (#!#http://www.dacnis.org.br/tarantula_moth.pdf)</a> although I know no scientific study to support the mimicry claim.<br />
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Main source: Borboletas e Mariposas de Santa Catarina. (E-Book) (<a href="https://books.google.com.br/books?id=gmZlDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=trichophassus+giganteus+borboletas&source=bl&ots=STWF6TY0OB&sig=KIZfVJY2qkCLXPElxotJc6mhwEw&hl=pt-BR&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjPtYCG5s3ZAhUqwlkKHTsaCowQ6AEISDAJ)" rel="nofollow">https://books.google.com.br/books?id=gmZlDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=trichophassus+giganteus+borboletas&source=bl&ots=STWF6TY0OB&sig=KIZfVJY2qkCLXPElxotJc6mhwEw&hl=pt-BR&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjPtYCG5s3ZAhUqwlkKHTsaCowQ6AEISDAJ)</a><br />
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Other sources:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichophassus" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichophassus</a><br />
<a href="http://eol.org/pages/964558/overview" rel="nofollow">http://eol.org/pages/964558/overview</a> Arthropoda,Arthropods,Artrópode,Artrópodes,Benedito Novo,Brasil,Brazil,Brazilian,Hepialidae,Hepialoidea,Lepidoptera,Lepidopterologia,Lepidopterology,Mariposas Neotropicais,Neotropical,Neotropical Moths,Santa Catarina,Trichophassus giganteus,ancient,arthropod](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3305/59629_medium.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=LZJglyPOrzbGMakcIRKmQ0xTXXg%3D)
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Trichophassus (Phassus) giganteus - Ghost Moth / Swift Moth / Mariposa-Fantasma (Herrich-Schäffer, [1853])
Lepidoptera: Glossata: Hepialoidea: Hepialidae
VERSÃO EM PORTUGUÊS AQUI: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1691062553
Wingspan: Somewhere between 160mm and 170mm.
Larvae of Hepialidae are covered in thin, short setae and possess elongated heads. The larvae of Hepialids can be root, stalk and branch drillers, whilst others are mycophagous. Some species feed on fallen leaves, others on moss (as well), decaying vegetable matter, etc. They can dig tunnels in the soil to hide; these tunnels are covered in silk, including the entrance, which is covered in vegetable matter mixed with silk. Some species live on tree trunks and cover themselves with silk before beginning to tunnel. Once protected, they begin digging the tunnel that will serve them as shelter on the tree trunk. Similarly to those that dig in the soil, the tree trunk dwellers will cover the entrance of the tunnel with vegetable matter. According to the English version Hepialidae article on Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepialidae), Hepialids are considered primitive moths, with many of their traits being different than those of other moths such as short antennae and non-functional proboscis or frenulum. The sperm is transferred to the egg through an external channel between the ostium and the ovipore. Despite their size, strictly speaking, they are too basal and constitute Microlepidoptera but some entities prefer to place them under Macrolepidoptera, even though they are too archaic. Many species display strong sexual dimorphism.
Males swarm when daylight is reduced during the crepuscular hours and the females are attracted to chemical stimuli. Concerning Trichophassus giganteus, a single female can carry 10.000 eggs and the embryonic development takes 28 days. A few species of Hepialidae can carry 50.000 eggs, which are expelled and scattered during flight with no specific target.
Trichophassus is a monotypical genus consisting of a single species, giganteus. According to the source "Borboletas e Mariposas de Santa Catarina" there are 17 species (18 are mentioned, but one of them, Argyrotome mira, is wrongly placed there as it is a Geometrid) of Hepialids described to the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil, but there may be more that I'm unaware of:
Aepytus munoa (Schaus, 1929) - Santa Catarina
Aepytus guarani (Pfitzner, 1914) - Santa Catarina, São Bento do Sul
Aepytus tupi (Mielke & Grehan, 2015) - São Bento do Sul
Cibyra dorita (Schaus, 1901) - Santa Catarina
Cibyra ferrugisona (Walker, 1856) - São Bento do Sul
Cibyra ybyta (Mielke, 2015) - Urubici, São Joaquim
Cybira meridionalis (Mielke & Casagrande, 2013) - São Bento do Sul, Urubici, São Joaquim
Cibyra monoargenteus (Viette, 1951) - São Bento do Sul, Urubici
Cibyra munona (Schaus, 1929) - Santa Catarina
Cibyra ochracea (Mielke, 2014) - São Bento do Sul
Cibyra stigmatica (Pfitzner, 1937) - São Bento do Sul
Cibyra verresi (Schaus, 1929) - Santa Catarina
Cibyra ykeyra (Mielke, 2015) - São Bento do Sul
Roseala tessellatus (Herrich-Schäffer, [1853]) - Joaçaba, Santa Catarina
Vietteogorgopis katharinae (Pfitzner, 1914) - Santa Catarina
Schaefferiana epigramma (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854) - São Bento do Sul
Trichophassus giganteus (Herrich-Schäffer, [1853]) - Joaçaba, Benedito Novo, Santa Catarina
If you have any additions to the list, feel free to contribute.
According to their English article on Wikipedia, the larvae of Trichophassus giganteus were documented feeding on Adenocalyma, Eucalyptus, Ipomoea and Solanum. Their wingspan lies somewhere around 160mm to 170mm, being the largest Hepialid in South America. Their appearance might be a display of camouflage (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12797038)#!# and mimicry (#!#http://www.dacnis.org.br/tarantula_moth.pdf) although I know no scientific study to support the mimicry claim.
Main source: Borboletas e Mariposas de Santa Catarina. (E-Book) (https://books.google.com.br/books?id=gmZlDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=trichophassus+giganteus+borboletas&source=bl&ots=STWF6TY0OB&sig=KIZfVJY2qkCLXPElxotJc6mhwEw&hl=pt-BR&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjPtYCG5s3ZAhUqwlkKHTsaCowQ6AEISDAJ)
Other sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichophassus
http://eol.org/pages/964558/overview
''Trichophassus'' is a monotypic moth genus of the family Hepialidae. The only described species is ''Trichophassus giganteus'' which is endemic to Brazil. The larva of this species has been recorded feeding on ''Adenocalymma'', ''Eucalyptus'', ''Ipomoea'' and ''Solanum''.
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