DISTRIBUTION: Cerodirphia nadiana (wingspan: males: 70-72mm; females: // Mfwl: ; Ffwl) flies in Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo, Morona-Santiago and possibly Pastaza. Cerodirphia nadiana, Eastern Ecuador, 2000m -2300 m, Cosanga, San Isidro Bird Watching Lodge, October - February, courtesy of Horst Kach

This species flies overlow grass prairies at elevations around 3200 m.

The black abdomen is ringed with white. Ground colour of male is yellow with salmon tints; female is more orangey-beige. There is a thick black line in the white Y-shaped cell spot, covering the upper half of the upper fork, often separating the prongs from the tip. A diffuse black pm line curves as it passes through the Y-shaped marking. Fringes are white with a black spot centered on the veins.

Cerodirphia nadiana courtesy of Paul Jenkins.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably broods continuously. Specimens have been taken in April and September-October, February. Myspecies info reports larvae feed on

Cerodirphia nadiana female, Cosanga, Napo, Ecuador,
September 3, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia nadiana female, Cosanga, Napo, Ecuador,
September 3, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Cerodirphia nadiana male, San Isidro, Napo, Ecuador,
April 6, 2011, courtesy of Tony Hoare via Peter Bruce-Jones.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larve feed gregariously and have urticating spines.

Cerodirphia nadiana fifth instar,
courtesy of myspecies via Sarah Miller, creative commons,
Photographer: Simbaņa, Wilmer & Salgaje, Luis. Publisher: Morrison, Colin.

Cerodirphia nadiana fifth instar,
courtesy of myspecies via Sarah Miller, creative commons,
Photographer: Simbaņa, Wilmer & Salgaje, Luis. Publisher: Morrison, Colin.

Larvae are reported on Nectandra sp., in the Lauraceae family and on Weinmania balbisiana, in the Cunoniaceae family (myspecies info).

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.

Nectandra Weinmania balbisiana .......

Sweetwood Encenillo

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The species name is honourific for the collector, Mrs. Nadia Venedictoff.

Cerodirphia nadiana male, 70mm, Napo, Ecuador,
on my home computer only