DISTRIBUTION:

Cerodirphia araguensis (wingspan: males: 70-89mm; females: 102mm // forewing length: males 36-47mm; females: 54mm) flies in Venezuela: Aragua, at elevations near 1000-1600m along the coastal mountains.

Male wings are a uniform dark brown to chestnut brown with darker grey-brown-black, diffuse pm bands. The forewing cell marking is relativley short with an unbroken black striga. Hindwing cell mark is small, elongate, diffuse, beigey-white striga.

The female is larger with a lighter, slightly orangey-brown ground colour, with markings similar to those of the male.

Cerodirphia araguensis male, Venezuela,
84mm, courtesy of Frank Meister.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably broods continuously. Specimens have been taken in March-April-May-June-July-August-September-October, December.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Cerodirphia araguensis emale, Aragua, Venezuela,
September 9, 1945, 1600m, courtesy of Claude Lemaire.

Cerodirphia araguensis female, Aragua, Venezuela,
August 28, 1974, 1150m, courtesy of Claude Lemaire.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larve feed gregariously and have urticating spines.

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.

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