DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia moderata (wingspan: males: 80-102mm; females: 84-111mm) flies in
Paraguay: Guaira, Paraguari, Cordillera, Caazapa: Tavai (SN), and probably Caaguazu; and
Argentina (Salta and probably Formosa and Chaco) and
Brazil (Paraiba; Pernambuco; Bahia; Mato Grosso; Mato Grosso do Sul; Minas Gerais; Parana (CM); Sao Paulo; and probably Alagoas: Jequia da Praia (yes, EC); Sergipe; Espirito Santo; Goais and Rio de Janeiro).

Dirphia avicula is the same as D. moderata. Species name moderata is the proper taxonomy. Everson Cardoso confirms a presence in Alagoas with the following image.

Dirphia moderata, Jequia da Praia, Alagoas, Brazil,
July 11, 2016, courtesy of Everson Cardoso.

Dirphia moderata male, Matozinhos, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
September 29, 2010, courtesy of Wolfgang Walz Hillermann.

Dirphia moderata female, Matozinhos, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
September 29, 2010, courtesy of Wolfgang Walz Hillermann.

Dirphia moderata pair, Matozinhos, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
September 29, 2010, courtesy of Wolfgang Walz Hillermann.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, suggesting a pattern of continuous brooding. Larvae feed upon Anacardium occidentalis, Schinus terebinthifolius, Rapanea umbellata and Schinus gracilipes.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females by tracking their airbourne pheromone plumes. Female, to right, curls abdomen to deposit eggs.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

White eggs are deposited in large clusters, often on the undersides of foliage. Early instars are probably highly gregarious. Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphia species all have urticating spines.

This larva has just crawled out of a skin which it has outgrown. Photos courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Dirphia moderata second or third instar, Extremoz, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil,
courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

Dirphia moderata second or third instar, Extremoz, Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil,
courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

Dirphia moderata, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, courtesy of Edmond Thauront.

Dirphia moderata final instar, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
April 13, 2016, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira, id by Bill Oehlke.

Dirphia moderata pupa, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

Visit Dirphia moderata lighter larva, pupa and emergent female, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

Visit Dirphia moderata darker larva, cocoon and emergent female, male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

Dirphia moderata fifth instar, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 24, 2009, courtesy of Larry Valentine, id by Bill Oehlke.

Dirphia moderata male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
January 26, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine, id by Bill Oehlke.

Dirphia moderata female, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 24, 2009, courtesy of Larry Valentine, id by Bill Oehlke.

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 occidentalis......... Schinus terebinthifolius Rapanea umbellata Schinus gracilipes Salix.......

Cashew Brazilian pepper-tree Rapanea umbellata Schinus gracilipes Willow

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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 male contempory/friend/collector/etc., while those which end in "ae" are honorific, usually for the first name of a female contempory/friend/collector. Those which end in orum are honourific for two or more such people with the same last name.

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

The species name "moderata" perhaps indicates this moth flies at more moderate (lower) altitudes as compared to closely related D. ursina.

Dirphia moderata, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
April 22, 2016, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira, id by Bill Oehlke.

Dirphia moderata female, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
June 15, 2016, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

Dirphia moderata egg-laying female, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
June 15, 2016, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

Dirphia moderata, 5l Paraiba, Brazil,
on my home computer only.