DISTRIBUTION:

Recent study has revealed that the material originally described by Bryk as Loepa katinka diversiocellata and subsequently elevated to full species status is actually Loepa katinka. Hence the name Loepa diversiocellata is not valid. The new name, Loepa diffundata, has been assigned to a distinct species (widely but incorrectly known as Loepa diversiocellata) from Laos, etc..

Loepa diffunoccidentalis (wingspan: males: 85-100mm; females: 90-109mm) flies in
Myanmar: Zi Yar Dam, 65 km E Putao, 1250 m., 27.50ºN, 97.01ºE;
Bhutan: western (SD), central and eastern at elevations of 1200-1500m, June-July, September (SD);
and probably northern India.

This species is closely allied to the more easterly L. diffundata, which flies in
Laos (TL), Ban Hin Ngon;
Cambodia;,
Thailand: Chiang Mai south to Isthmus of Kra, Doi Pha Hom Pok 2050 Mae Ai; and
??China: Yunnan (AM), Tibet, Guangxi.

L. diffundata gets replaced by L. diffunorientalis in
Vietnam: Plato Tay Nguyen, Mt. Ngoc Linh.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect this species has multiple broods. Loepa diffunoccidentalis has been taken in August.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call at night. Males fly into the wind and track the pheromone plume with their sophisticated antennae.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Cissus Parthenocissus quinquefolia.......

Grape Virginia Creeper

The species name diffundata was chosen for the wide distribution of this species.

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On my home computer only: notes on Saturniidae of Bhutan by Ronald Brechlin (in English) as published in Entomo-Satsphingia 2 (1): 47 – 55 (March 2009)

The actual hardcopy editions of Entomo-Satsphingia may be purchased via the link to the left.

NEVA_29_149_NAUMANN_NAESSIG.PDF