DISTRIBUTION:

Cerodirphia roseissima (wingspan: males: 70-82mm; females: 89-100mm) flies in
Ecuador: Napo; Morona-Santiago; Azuay; at elevations from 1530-1800m. It has also been taken in
Peru: San Martin.

This large species has an intensely pink ground colour. The black striga in the white Y-shaped mark is unbroken, and it hosts an internal white line. There is sometimes a small white discal streak on the hindwings.

On the ventral surfaces of each of all four wings there is a distinct white discal spot.

This moth was elevated in 2011 to full species status by Brechlin & Meister. It was originally treated as a subspecies of Cerodirphia wellingi.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Cerodirphia roseissima has been taken January, February and November. Horst Kach reports a November 29, 2010, flight in Garumales, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador.

Horst Kach has had success rearing them on oak (Quercus).

Cerodirphia roseissima female, Paute, Azuay, Ecuador,
1700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima female, Paute, Azuay, Ecuador,
1700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima female, Paute, Azuay, Ecuador,
1700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Cerodirphia roseissima female, Guarumales, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador,
1700m, November 29, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima female (verso), Guarumales, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador,
1700m, November 29, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Cerodirphia roseissima third instars, Paute, Azuay, Ecuador,
1700m, May 10, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima fourth instars, Paute, Azuay, Ecuador,
1700m, May 29, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima fourth instars, Paute, Azuay, Ecuador,
1700m, May 29, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima fourth instars, Guarumales, Morona Santiago, Ecuador,
1700m, June 13, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima fifth instars, Paute, Azuay, Ecuador,
1700m, June 20, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima sixth instar, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia roseissima fifth instars, Paute, Azuay, Ecuador,
1700m, July 13, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

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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Cerodirphia roseissima male, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

Cerodirphia roseissima female, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

Cerodirphia roseissima male, 71mm, Napo, Ecuador,
on my home computer only.