DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia thliptophana thliptophana (wingspan: males: 72-86mm; females: 95mm) flies in
Ecuador: Sucumbios;
Colombia: (probably Putamayo, Amazonas, Caqueta ??);
Peru: Cusco, Puno, possibly Ucayali (VI), Madre de Dios (JV);
Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba;
on the eastern slopes of the Andes and in
French Guiana: Camopi, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, (probably Apatou, Grande-Santi, Maripasoula, Saul ??); and
probably in Brazil: (Amazonas, Para, Roraima, Acre ??).

Dirphia thliptophana, male, 78mm, Amazonia Lodge, Madre de Dios, Peru,
May 16, 2012, 485m, courtesy of Jim Vargo, id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been observed in January-February, May-July, December at lower elevations: 485 (JV) to 600-900m.

Dirphia thliptophana male, Rio Sapani, Ucayali, Peru,
October 29, 2008, 350m, courtesy of Vladimir Izersky, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Both D. fraterna fraterna and D. thliptophana are likely to fly in southeastern Peru at low elevations. I am not sure if the specimen from Ucayali Province is D. thliptophana or D. fraterna. Examination of genitalia might be necessary to distinguish between the two species. D. thliptophana is supposed to have two very thin yellow parallel lines at M1 and M3, perpendicular to the yellowish "vertical" streak in the dark cell region. Lemaire notes they are often very inconspicuous.

Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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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