Dirphia fernandezi

Dirphia fernandezi

Dirphia fernandezi
Lemaire, 1972

Dirphia fernandezi male, Bolivar, Venezuela,
April 22, 1956, 1100m, on my home computer only.

TAXONOMY:

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

MIDI MUSIC

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DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia fernandezi (wingspan: males: 84-96mm; females; probably larger) flies in the La Gran Sabana Mountains in
southeastern Venezuela: Bolivar at elevations near 1100m.
This brown species with a very dentate diffuse white pm line is very distinct. The fw am line is vestigial at best, and a very prominent, relatively thick, dull orange line emananates from almost the wing base to the outer edge of the subterminal area, lassoing the dark cell mark along the way and extending to the costa above the cell.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The moth has been taken in April. Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females during the day by tracking their airbourne pheromone plumes.

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.
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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