DISTRIBUTON:

Dirphia fraterna (wingspan: males: 60-97mm; females: 95-128mm) flies in tropical rain forests in equatorial South America from the Guyanas to Bolivia in the Guyano - Amazonian region at elevations of 0 -1500 m on the eastern slopes of the Andes.

Lemaire lists
Colombia: Meta, Huila, Caqueta (LRRV) and probably Amazonas and Putamayo;
Ecuador: Sucumbios, Orellana, Napo, Morona Santiago and probably Pastaza;
Peru: Amazonas (LTR), Huanuco, Cusco, Junin (PBJ) Madre de Dios, probably San Martin, Loreto and Puno;
Bolivia: La Paz, Beni; and
Brazil: Paraiba, Mato Grosso, Rondonia (CB).

Dirphia fraterna male, Caranavi, La Paz, Bolivia, January 16, 2004,
S15*50.250 W067*34.048, 589 m, 21C, 250W ks, wingspan: 85 mm, courtesy of Henrik Bloch.

In males of this species, the thorax, the relatively small forewing cell patch, and the forewing basal area close to the body are dark brown. The abdomen is orange with wide and very dark brown to black rings. The submarginal area is golden brown, and the rest of the forewing is a uniform light brown (slightly darker in the pm area as compared to basal area).

The hindwing is slightly darker than the forewing with brownish-red scales in the basal area. There is an indistinct, slightly darker postmedian band and a comma-shaped slightly darker cell marking.

Dirphia fraterna male, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
March 3, 2009, courtesy of Steve Ife.

Dirphia fraterna male, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
March 3, 2009, courtesy of Steve Ife.

Dirphia thliptophana is very similar to Dirphia fraterna, and most of the moths on this page have characters that make them very difficult to distinguish, one species from another. I (Bill Oehlke) have gone with fraterna for the Henrik Bloch images based on size which approaches the upper limit of thliptophana and is median for fraterna.

The actual shape and size of the dark median patch on most images on this page is a better match for Lemaire's image of thliptophana. However, that trait may be somewhat variable. Examination of genitalia might be needed for a positive identification.

Thibaud's image of the female is a good match for Lemaire's description and image of fraterna.

June 1, 2006: Thibaud Decaens and Eurides Furtado both confirm Henrik's images (above and below) as Dirphia fraterna fraterna.

The ventral surface is a uniform orange-brown.

Dirphia fraterna male, Caranavi, La Paz, Bolivia, January 16, 2004,
S15*50.250 W067*34.048, 589 m, 21C, 250W ks, wingspan: 85 mm, courtesy of Henrik Bloch.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November and December, suggesting multiple broods as weather permits. Larval hosts are unknown.

Dirphia fraterna * female, Yasuni N.P. (Napo), Ecuador,
wingspan: 115mm, courtesy/copyright of Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, confirmed by Frederic Beneluz.

Dirphia fraterna * female, Rondonia, Brazil,
wingspan: 124mm, courtesy/copyright of Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, confirmed by Frederic Beneluz.

* Both of the females depicted above from Yasuni N. P. (Napo), Ecuador, and Rondonia, Brazil, seem best matched to Lemaire description of Dirphia fraterna fraterna. However, Lemaire mentions that the am line is only slightly sinuate and his images show a much straighter am line than is present on both these specimens. This may be normal variation, or perhaps an undescribed subspecies or two is depicted. Charles Bordelon mentions the Yasuni specimen is much darker than the specimen from Brazil. Frederic Beneluz confirms that both females are Dirphia fraterna fraterna..

Lemaire mentions that Dirphia thliptophana is quite similar to D. fraterna and Dirphia thliptophana is darker and has a more sinuate (in his image) am line, closer to the specimens depicted, than does D. fraterna. However, he also reports Dirphia thliptophana has a convex pm line, much more so than in the darker specimen from Yasuni N. P..

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: