DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia somoccidentalis (wingspan: males: 92mm; females: 125mm // Mfwl: 45-51mm; Ffwl: 60-70mm) flies in
Ecuador: Pichincha: Los Bancos: Rio Pachujal; Esmeraldas: Chuchuvi; at elevations of approximately 215-930m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January, April, June, November-December, suggesting at least three annual broods. There are probably additional flight months.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Dirphia somoccidentalis AT female, Rio Pachijal, Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 3, 2011, 930m, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

White eggs with a black micropyle are laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously.

Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphia species all have urticating spines.

The species name somoccidentalis is indicative of a specimen very similar to D. somniculosa, but from the western side of the Andes in northwestern Ecuador.

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Cedrela odorata Crataegus oxyacantha...... Fagus sylvatica Hymenaea courbaril Malus Prunus Quercus ilex Salix

West Indian Cedar English hawthorn European Beech West Indian Locust Apple Cherry/Plum Holly/Holm oak Willow

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