DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia apeggyae (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // Mfwl: 34-40mm; Ffwl: 48-51mm) flies in
Ecuador: Pichincha; Imbabura; at elevations of approximately 850-1000m-(1600m JMC).

Based on Entomo-Satsphingia Jahrgang 4 Heft 5 29.12.2011, the Dirphia tarquinia Group consists of the following species:

centralis F. Johnson & Michener, 1948, Peru: Junin; Pasco
acidalia Hubner, 1819 Suriname, French Guiana, Peru (E), Bolivia (E), Brazil
docquinae Lemaire, 1993 French Guiana; Suriname
brevifurca Strand, 1911, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
crassifurca Lemaire, 1971, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela
horca Dognin, 1894 Ecuador, Peru
abhorca Lemaire, 1969, western Colombia, Ecuador
ludmillae Lemaire, 1974, Colombia
subhorca Dognin, 1901, Ecuador: Imbabura; Colombia, Costa Rica
horcana Schaus, 1911 Costa Rica
centralis F. Johnson & Michener, 1948, Peru
prosperina Lemaire, 1982, Ecuador
radiata Dognin, 1916 French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Peru
irradians Lemaire, 1972 Venezuela
fernandezi Lemaire, 1972, Venezuela
winbrechlini Brechlin & Meister, 2011, Peru: Junin
amazhorca Brechlin & Meister, 2011, Peru: Amazonas
inexspectata Racheli and Racheli, 2005 Peru: Amazonas
riojhorca Brechlin & Meister, 2011, Peru: San Martin: Rioja
tolimafurca Brechlin & Meister, 2011, Colombia: Tolima
apeggyae Brechlin, Meister & Kaech, 2011, Ecuador: Pichincha

pastazana Brechlin, Meister & Kaech, 2011, Ecuador: Pastaza: Santa Clara
tarquinia (Cramer, 1775) Suriname, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil
lichyi Lemaire, 1971 Venezuela
barinasensis Barinas Province, Venezuela
mielkeorum Naumann, Brosch, & Wenczel, 2005, Peru: Madre de Dios
carimaguensis Decaëns T, Bonilla D, Naumann S, 2005 Colombia: Meta: Carimagua
aculecuatoriana Brechlin, Meister & Kaech, 2011, Ecuador: Pastaza; Sucumbios; Napo; Orellana
aculea Vuillot, 1892 Brazil
fabiani Brechlin & Meister, 2011, Peru: Junin, near Satipo

Dirphia apeggyae male, Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador,
July 3, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January, May, July, October, December, sugesting at least four annual flights. There are probably additional flight months.

Dirphia apeggyae (possibly carchensis) male, Los Cedros, Imbabura, Ecuador,
1600m, courtesy of Jean-Marc Gayman.

Dirphia apeggyae (possibly carchensis) male, Los Cedros, Imbabura, Ecuador,
1600m, courtesy of Jean-Marc Gayman.

Larvae feed upon West Indian Locust (Hymenaea courbaril) and West Indian Cedar (Cedrela odorata).

Dirphia apeggyae female, Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador,
July 3, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

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:

White eggs with a black micropyle are laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously.

Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphia species all have urticating spines.

The species name is honourific for Peggy Ackerman.

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Cedrela odorata Crataegus oxyacantha...... Fagus sylvatica Hymenaea courbaril Malus Prunus Quercus ilex Salix

West Indian Cedar English hawthorn European Beech West Indian Locust Apple Cherry/Plum Holly/Holm oak Willow

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