"The name "docquinae" is honorific for Annie DOCQUIN, the 2nd wife of Lionel SENECAUX, who was a great local entomologist and disinterested "récolteur". He had contributed to the description of many new species from FG, mostly "Arctiidae", Notodontidae and "Noctuidae" (Erebidae)."

DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia docquinae (wingspan: males: 63-70mm; females: unknown, probably larger) flies in
French Guiana: Roura, Kaw; and
Suriname: Brokopondo: Brownsberg.

This species is readily distinguished from acidalia by "absence of the brown streak inside the upper branches of the Y-shaped discal spot, postmedial line convex, costa of the forewing usually white from base to apex."

Dirphia docquinae male, Brownsberg National Park, Brokopondo, Suriname,
July 10, 2011, courtesy of Johan van't Bosch.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in January, April, May, June and November, suggesting three broods. Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking her airbourne pheromone plume. EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE: Eggs are laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously. Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphia species all have urticating spines. 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. Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page. Return to Dirphia Genus Goto South American Saturniidae Directory Goto Main Saturniidae Index The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names. The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read. There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different. Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history. Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc. I do not know the source of the genus name "Dirphia" chosen by Hubner in 1819. The species name "docquinae", is probably honourific for A. Docquin.