Registros fehacientes de Urania leilus (Lepidoptera: Uraniidae) para la provincia de Catamarca, Argentina

Rocío Victoria Reales; Alexis G. Santillán; Pía C. Barrère; Franco E. Araya

doi:10.30550/j.azl/2225

Authors

Rocío Victoria Reales Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Catamarca, SFVC
Alexis G. Santillán Facultad de Humanidades de la Universidad de San Martín
Pía C. Barrère Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Catamarca, SFVC
Franco E. Araya Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Catamarca, SFVC

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30550/j.azl/2225

Keywords:

New records, diurnal moth, distribution, northwestern Argentina

Abstract

Urania leilus (Lepidoptera: Uraniidae) is a diurnal moth distinguished
by its velvet black coloration and iridescent green bands. Its primary
distribution includes the Amazon Basin and other tropical areas, but
recent reports document occurrences in Argentina, including new re-
cords from Catamarca Province. The study presents the first confirmed
observations of U. leilus in urban and peri-urban environments in cen-
tral and western Catamarca —specifically in San Fernando del Valle de
Catamarca and Andalgalá— between 2023 and 2025. All individuals
were photographed, georeferenced, and observed under varied envi-
ronmental conditions, perched on plant species unrelated to the genus
Omphalea, the only known larval host. The absence of Omphalea in
the region suggests that these individuals are accidental migrants or
erratic dispersers, with no evidence of established populations. Potential
causes include unintentional transport, wind dispersal, or environmental
changes. The study also integrates citizen science records and describes
the arid phytogeographic context of the sampled sites. These findings
highlight the importance of collaboration between formal science and
local observers in improving faunal inventories. Additionally, U. leilus
is proposed as a potential bioindicator species, due to its speacialized
diet and migratory behavior. Finally, the lack of conservation status for
this species in the IUCN and national agencies underscores the urgent
need for more systematic research, especially in underexplored regions
such as northwestern Argentina.

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