DISTRIBUTION:

Loepa orientomiranda mirella (wngspan: males: ; females: // forewing length: males: females: 58-61mm) flies in
northern Thailand.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect the species is multiple brooded.

Larvae probably feed on Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata).

Franz Renner indicates he has reared this species (probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella) from stock from Thailand on Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Parthenocissus tricuspidata.

Loepa miranda female, Chiang Mai, Thailand (probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella),
courtesy of John Moore.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adults emerge in the early evening and fly rather weekly at night.

Females have larger bodies, fractionally finer antennae, and much more rounded and larger wings than males.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae are dark, have urticating hairs and light coloured triangular patches on the sides.

Loepa miranda first instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda second instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda third instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda fourth instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda fifth instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
fifth instar on Parthenocissus, courtesy of Franz Ziereis.

Eggs overwinter. Larvae are dark, have urticating hairs and light coloured triangular patches on the sides. They spin dense cocoons with an escape valve. The cocoons remind me of the inner cocoons of Hyalophora cecropia. Loepa miranda (probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella) cocoons, courtesy of Franz and Julain Rener.

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.

Citrus reticulata Parthenocissus quinquefolia ....... Parthenocissus tricuspidata Vitis vinifera

Mandarin orange Parthenocissus quinquefolia (FR) Parthenocissus tricuspidata (FR) European wine grape

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