Melipotis famelica - Mariposa-Famelica (Guenée, 1852)

Lepidoptera: Bombycina: Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Erebinae: Melipotini

Second picture:

Date: 7th of May, 2018 at 07:45:32pm.
Location: Brazil, Ceará, Fortaleza, 16th floor of a flat in an urban habitat.

Melipotis famelica is a moth belonging in the order Lepidoptera, subdivision Bombycina, superfamily Noctuoidea, family Erebidae, subfamily Erebinae and tribe Melipotini.

According to Wikipedia, the distribution status of this moth occurs in "Southern United States (Florida to Texas) to the Caribbean and Paraguay." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melipotis_famelica). BugGuide lists this distribution for Melipotis famelica: "Southern United States, Antilles, South to Venezuela, including Bermuda (Ferguson et al., 1991)" - These informations require a very enlightened confirmation as no source is provided in the Wikipedia article and, as it concerns a moth, the true distribution status, even through BugGuide, is either lacking, unlikely 100% correct, or unlikely wrong. Thus, it's more likely that the information is lacking due to the lack of information available concerning Melipotis famelica's - and moths in general - distribution status.

After asking Cesar of Insetologia what Melipotis this was, he thought about Melipotis acontioides due to a link he provided from ESALQ (http://www.lea.esalq.usp.br/me/fotos/Lepidoptera/Erebidae/Erebinae/6186.jpg)#!#, with the clear statement that other pictures he saw identified as Melipotis acontioides were considerably different (#!#http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=8610)#!#. Then, he suggested the species Melipotis famelica and I agree with this statement (#!#http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=8604) as it perfectly matches my specimen besides shading differences that are probably due to lighting or sexual dimorphism. I couldn't find any other perfect Melipotis matches to the individual portrayed besides Melipotis famelica.

Article on Insetologia: https://www.insetologia.com.br/2018/06/mariposa-melipotis-no-ceara.html

The Hodges Number of Melipotis famelica is 8604 with a phylogenetic sequence of #930875. Synonyms include Bolina bivittata (Walker, [1858]). The known host plant is, according to BugGuide, Lysiloma latisiliquum ("false tamarind" / "wild tamarind") ((L.) Benth.) (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae: Dimorphandra group B, including the Mimosoideae). According to this same source, they are on flight year round in Florida and from May to November in Texas. As for Brazil, this picture was captured on the 7th of May, 2018 at 07:45:32pm, which suggests the probability that they are also on flight in Brazil from May onwards, from earlier to May, year round, or only in May. More host plants might exist with a high probability ratio. Synonyms of the known host plant include:

Acacia bahamensis ((Benth.) Griseb.)
Acacia latisiliqua ((L.) Willd.)
Leucaena latisiliqua ((L.) Gillis)
Lysiloma bahamense (Benth.)
Mimosa latisiliqua (L.)

BugGuide also states that the wingspan of Melipotis famelica lies around 42mm.

https://bugguide.net/node/view/692937

A similar genus to Melipotis is the genus Drasteria, but this is, undoubtedly, a Melipotis as identified by the very enlightened James Adams. The famelica species was identified by Jeffery Wang and Cesar of Insetologia, further reinforcing the identification as correct.

The larvae undergo between five and seven growth instars, a factor that depends on the detachment of the cephalic capsule, measuring the distance between gena to gena and between the frontal setae. 1 to 8 eggs are laid irregularly away from the optical edge, on the follicles of the host plant's leaves. Larvae are active from the moment of birth and scrape the follicles. Later instars choose to hide beneath the leaves and are less active, even though they defoliate with more voracity. The pupa process occurs underground, with the larva forming a cocoon of silk and ground, then proceeding to the pupa stage. The egg stage lasts 4 or 5 days; the larval stage lasts between 21 and 40 days; the pre-pupa stage lasts between 4 and 7 days; the pupa stage lasts between 10 and 23 days; adults' lifespan lies between 7 and 12 days. Thus, the entire egg-death process lasts 87 days or, more likely, less, with 87 days being achieved very rarely, and with the unlikely possibility of a longer lifespan. (Source: http://www.seb.org.br/asp/cbe2012/trabalhos/468/468_1.pdf)

Tachinids are known to parasitize Melipotis according to this free E-Book: https://books.google.com.br/books?id=29-ltt3cyFEC&pg=PA235&lpg=PA235&dq=melipotis+famelica+larva&source=bl&ots=YkxuA0pDh9&sig=nulm9fSGrVW_AkepNXAt6Rq5G_4&hl=pt-BR&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1s-bgpNTbAhVMDpAKHdCOBH8Q6AEIZDAL#v=onepage&q=melipotis&f=false

Mantispidae (and most likely Mantodea in general), Polistes sp., Tyrannidae, Crotophaga major and the entomopathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis are all natural enemies of Melipotis famelica. Sadly, the abuse of these bioforms occurs against Melipotis famelica in agriculture (http://www.simbras-as.com.br/uploads/2012 Palestras Simbras/palestra09.pdf).

The coloring of the adults of Melipotis famelica is highly reminiscent of wood, a condition that might indicate the presence of a defensive mechanism of camouflage against potential predators, especially due to the appearance of the known host plant.

Under their true distribution range, Melipotis famelica most likely occur in fields, forests and anthropogenic habitats which include their host plant(s). For instance, this specimen was photographed on the 16th floor of a flat in an urban habitat, fact that displays they can fly relatively high.

They are attracted to artificial lighting.

The sources can be found in the text.

BOLD Systems: http://v3.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=34291
Encyclopedia of Life: http://eol.org/pages/553333/overview

My album on Flickr containing all the genera inside Melipotini: https://www.flickr.com/photos/137358035@N02/albums/72157670005603878