DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia lichyi (wingspan: males: 76-91mm; females: 105-120mm) flies in northwestern and north central Venezuela: Aragua: Puerto Colombia; Carabobo: Rio Borburata; Barinas: Barinitis.

The moth is named after Rene Lichyi who collected larvae in 1945. It flies at elevations from sea level to 800m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in Marc, May and December, suggesting two or three broods annually.

Larvae feed upon Anacardium excelsum, Mangifera indica, Syzigium jambas and Syzigium malaccense. In captivity they accept Prunus species.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking her airbourne pheromone plume. Dirphia lichyi female, to the right, courtesy of Bernhard Jost.

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.

Below are Paolo Mazzei images of Dirphia lichyi larvae in first, second and final instars:

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.

Anacardium excelsum ...... Mangifera indica Syzigium jambas Syzigium malaccense

Anacardium excelsum Mangifera indica Syzigium jambas Syzigium malaccense

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Dirphia" chosen by Hubner in 1819.

The species name "lichyi" is honourific for Rene Lichyi who collected larvae in 1945.