DISTRIBUTION:

Cerodirphia inopinata (wingspan: males: 61-65-72mm; females; probably larger) flies in
Peru: Amazonas and San Martin at elevations of 2000-2300m.

The forewing grouond colour is dull orange with heavy suffusions of grey between veins, which are not produced or accentuated on the forewings. The grey suffusions are bounded next to veins by dull orange bands. The forewing fringes are uniformly dark.

The hindwing ground colour is also dull orange with a yellowish basal median area. The veins are strongly accentuated with dark fringe and seem produced, giving a scalloped appearance to the outer margin which is otherwise with whitish fringe. There are similar strong grey suffusions, bounded by orange in the hindwing pm area between veins.

The anal tuft is yellowish in inopinata, pinkish in Ecuadorian C. nadiana.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably broods continuously, but specimens thus far have only been recorded in January-February.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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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