DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia lapaziana (wingspan: males: 91-97mm; females: mm // Mfwl: 45-50mm; Ffwl: mm) flies in
Bolivia: La Paz; Sanata Cruz; at elevations of approximately 1000-1900m.

Dirphia lapaziana male, 91mm, La Paz, Bolivia,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimena have been taken in September-October-November. There are probably additional flight months.

Larvae feed upon West Indian Locust (Hymenaea courbaril) and West Indian Cedar (Cedrela odorata).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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 is indicative of a specimen type in La Paz, Bolivia.

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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