Dirphiopsis epiolina

Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, February, 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Kelly Price (Sao Bento, Santa Catarina, Brazil, August 1968); 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Bernhard Wenczel (Rhus typhina)
Updated as per personal communication with Leonardo Aguado (Tucuman, Argentina, January 2008); October 6, 2011
Updated as per personal communication with Luis Cesar Tejo; (Misiones, Argentina); November 26, 2013
Updated as per ZOOLOGIA LEPIDÓPTEROS DE IMPORTÂNCIA MÉDICA OCORRENTES NO RIO GRANDE DO SUL. III. SATURNIIDAE – HEMILEUCINAE (flight months; foodplants; RGDS); Alexandre Specht; Elio Corseuil; Aline Carraro Formentini
Updated as per personal communication with Joao Amarildo Ranguetti? (Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, September 8, 2013): March 15, 2016
Updated as per personal communication with Janeth Coutinho (Guabiruba, Santa Catarina, Brazil, July 5, 2016; July 16, 2017): November 21, 2016; March 29, 2018

DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphiopsis epiolina (wingspan: males: 57-69mm; females: 71-90mm) flies in
Peru;
southeastern Brazil: Parana; Santa Catarina: Blumenau and Massaranduba (JAR); Sao Bento Do Sul; Rio Grande Do Sul (AS);
northeastern Argentina: Misiones (LCT); Tucuman (LA), probably ?? Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Corrientes, and
southeastern Paraguay: UD: Canindeyu, Alto Parana, Caaguazu, Guaira and (probably Caazapa and Itapua (WO?).

Dirphiopsis epiolina courtesy of Alain Van Vyve.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in December-January-February-March and again in May-June-July-August-September. Leonardo Aguado reports a January flight in Tucuman, Argentina.

Dirphiopsis epiolina male, Rio Cochuna, Depto Chicligasta, Tucuman, Argentina,
January 1, 2008, courtesy of Leonardo Aguado.

Larvae feed upon Psidium guajava.

Bernhard Wenczel has reared them on Rhus typhina and reports "I don't doubt they eat Fagus and Willow as well, since I've reared all my former Dirphiopsis on those two plants, too."

Dirphiopsis epiolina female, Sao Bento, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
June 1968, courtesy Kelly Price.

Dirphiopsis epiolina female, 85mm, Sao Bento Do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
December 2013, courtesy of Philip Brems.

Dirphiopsis epiolina, Guabiruba, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
July 5, 2016, courtesy of Janeth Coutinho.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking her airbourne pheromone plume.
Dirphiopsis epiolina male, Lodge Don Enrique, Misiones, Argentina,
courtesy of Luis Cesar Tejo.

Dirphiopsis epiolina male, Lodge Don Enrique, Misiones, Argentina,
resting position, courtesy of Luis Cesar Tejo.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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

Dirphiopsis epiolina, Peru, on Rhus typhina, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Dirphiopsis epiolina final instar, courtesy of Viktor Suter
Visit Dirphiopsis epiolina additional iamges.

Foodplants
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.

Fagus
Psidium guajava.......
Rhus typhina
Salix

Beech
Guava
Staghorn Sumac
Willow

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