DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia avialtoparanensis (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // Mfwl: 44-46mm; Ffwl: ) flies in
Paraguay: Alto Parana; Paraguari; probably throughout much of Paraguay; at least eastern Paraguay.

Dirphia avialtoparanensis male, Paraguay,
August 2009, Paul Smith, id by Bill Oehlke

Dirphia avialtoparanensis male, Itapua, Paraguay,
Paul Smith, id by Bill Oehlke

Based on Entomo-Satsphingia Jahrgang 4 Heft 5 29.12.2011, the Dirphia avia Group (darker median sub-triangular shape, running from costa toward inner margin without striga) consists of the following species:

allae Brechlin & Meister 2011, Peru: Ayacucho; Apurimac; Cusco; Puno; Madre de Dios; Ucayali; Junin; Pasco;
avia French Guiana; Venezuela; probably Guyana and Suriname; most of Central America
avibarinasensis Brechlin & Meister 2011, Venezuela: Barinas
avichoco Brechlin & Meister 2011, Colombia: Choco
aviluisiana Brechlin & Meister 2011, Colombia: Antioquia; Cundinamarca?;
aviurica Brechlin & Meister 2011, Peru: Piura; Tumbes
avinapoana Brechlin, Meister & Kaech 2011, Ecuador: Napo; Zamora Chinchipe; Peru: Amazonas; San Martin
aviboliviana Brechlin & Meister 2011, Bolivia: La Paz; Chuquisaca; Beni; Tarija; Santa Cruz; Cochabamba;
avialtoparanensis Brechlin & Meister 2011, Paraguay: Alto Parana; Paraguari
cadioui Lemaire, 1980, Argentina; Bolivia
curitiba Draudt, 1930 Brazil
dentimaculata Schaus, 1921 Brazil; possibly Paraguay
muscosa Schaus, 1898 southeastern Brazil; northeastern Argentina
Ormiscodes hortensia Schaus, 1913, Brazil, is same as muscosa
f. sinuosa Bouvier, 1929, Brazil, is same as muscosa
f. colorata Bouvier, 1930, Brazil, is same as muscosa
nora (Druce, 1897) Panama: Chiriqui
triangulum Walker, 1855 southeastern Brazil: Santa Catarina; Rio de Janeiro; probably Sao Paulo; Minas Gerais; Parana.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been reported on the wing in May and August-September. There may be additional flight months.

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

Dirphia avialtoparanensis male, Paraguay,
Paul Smith, id by Bill Oehlke

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

In the image to the right, female curls her abdomen to deposit eggs.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.

Dirphia avialtoparanensis third instar, Paraguay,
courtesy of Ulf Drechsel, id by Bill Oehlke

Dirphia avialtoparanensis fifth instars, San Rafael, Paraguay,
courtesy of Paul Smith, id by Bill Oehlke

The species name is indicative of similarity to Dirphia avia and a specimen type locale in Alto Parana, Paraguay.

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

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Dirphia Genus

Goto Mexican and Central American Saturniidae Directory

Goto South American Saturniidae Directory

Goto Main Saturniidae Index