Dirphia monticola
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, March 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Carlos Milke, July 2009
Updated as per personal communication with Carlos Milke (Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, 2450m), April 25, 2011

Dirphia monticola
Zerny, 1924

Dirphia monticola male, 90mm, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Dirphia, Hubner, 1819

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Dirphia monticola moth (wingspan: males: 71-82-90(CM)mm; females: 85mm) flies at high elevation (2000-2400m-2450m (CM)) in
Brazil: Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro: Itatiaia.

Dirphia monticola male, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
2450m, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in March and April, possibly as a single brood due to elevation. Larval hosts are unknown.

Dirphia monticola male, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
2450m, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Dirphia monticola female, Itatiaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
2450m, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously. 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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