DISTRIBUTION:

Cerodirphia mielkei (wingspan: males: 47-52mm; females: 62-65mm // forewing length: males: 25-27mm; females: 33mm) flies in
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro: Itatiaia, at higher elevations (2400m) than C. zikani.

Fresh specimens, males and females have both sides of the am line bordered in white, and the inner side of the pml ine bordered in white.

Cerodirphia mielkei male, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
January 14, 2021, courtesy of Lucius Rabello Vasconcellos, id by Carlos Mielke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably broods continuously. Specimens have been taken in May, November and January. There are probably additional flight months.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Cerodirphia mielkei female, Carlos G. C. Mielke,
65mm, on my home computer only.

Cerodirphia mielkei AT female, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
March 22, 1969, 2400m, 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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