Dirphia centralis
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae, 2002, March, 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Hubert Mayer, March 2007

Dirphia centralis
F. Johnson & Michener, 1948

Dirphia centralis male, (Peru), Bernhard Wenczel

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Dirphia, Hubner, 1819

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DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia centralis (wingspan: males: 68-78mm; females: 84mm) flies in Peru: Junin and Pasco; and possibly in the Central Andean region from Ecuador to Peru in humid Andean forests at elevations of 1700 - 2200 m.

Note the prominent black streak in the upper arm of the white Y in the forewing, and the reduced/thinner lower arm of the black Y in the hindwing. The "tail" of the hw Y also terminates before reaching or at the medial band. It does not extend through the band into the submarginal area as it does in D. inexspectata.

Dirphia centralis male, Oxapampa, Pasco, Peru,
July 2004, 2000m, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are observed in March-April and December, suggesting at least two broods. The July data supplied by Hubert Mayer indicates at least three broods.

Dirphia centralis male, Pasco, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Dirphia centralis female courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Dirphia centralis female, Oxapampa, Pasco, Peru,
July 2004, 2000m, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously. Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphia species all have urticating spines.

Dirphia centralis male copyright Kirby Wolfe

Dirphia centralis larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

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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