Dirphia fraterna seraphini
Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, December 16, 2005
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, October 3, 2006
Updated as per French Guiana Systematique, February 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Frederic Beneluz, April 30, 2011
Updated as per Entomo-Satsphingia Jahrgang 6 Heft 3 30.05.2013 (elevated to full species status); March 29, 2014

Dirphia seraphini
Bouvier, 1929

Dirphia seraphini courtesy of Laurent Lecerf.

TAXONOMY:

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

DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia seraphini (wingspan: males: 78-97mm; females: 118-125mm) flies in
French Guiana: Roura, Kaw, Cayenne, Regina, Coralie, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni and probably in surrounding areas.

This moth has been elevated to full species status, Brechlin & Meister, 2013. It was previously treated as a subspecies of fraterna.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January-February-March, May, July-August and December, suggesting a pattern of continuous brooding. Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Dirphia seraphini courtesy of Entomo Service

Dirphia seraphini male, courtesy of Carlot Didier

Dirphia seraphini female, courtesy of Carlot Didier,
id by Frederic Beneluz.

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.

Dirphia fraterna seraphini 5l, Kaw, French Guiana,
on my home computer only.

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Dirphia fraterna seraphini male, Kaw, French Guiana,
November 20, 2001, collection of Rene Lahousse, photo copyright Rene Lahousse,
French Guiana Systematique.

Dirphia fraterna seraphini female, Coralie, French Guiana,
December 8, 1999, collection of Andre Cloud, photo copyright Rene Lahousse,
French Guiana Systematique.

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