Dirphiopsis wolfei
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, February, 2008
Updated as per Kirby Wolfe CD, February 2008

Dirphiopsis wolfei
DIRF-ee-op-sisMWOLF-eye
Lemaire, 1992

Dirphiopsis wolfei male copyright Kirby Wolfe

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Dirphiopsis, Bouvier, 1928

MIDI MUSIC

"What.A.Wonderful.World"
copyright C. Odenkirk
MIDI CITY
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DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphiopsis wolfei (wingspan: males: 59-78mm; females: 82-93mm) flies in
Mexico: Guerrero; and
Guatemala: Zacapa; and
southern Honduras. This species is probably much more widespread than indicated.

HABITAT:

This montane species has been taken at elevations ranging from 925-1540m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in May-June and August. Larvae feed upon Quercus and Schinus terebinthifolius.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females by tracking their airbourne pheromone plumes.

Dirphiopsis wolfei male, courtesy of Manuel Balcazar-Lara.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously. Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphiopsis species all have urticating spines.

Dirphiopsis wolfei larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

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.

Quercus
Schinus terebinthifolius.......

Oak
Brazilian pepper tree

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