Pseudodirphia pallida moth
Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, December 16, 2005
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, October 3, 2006

Pseudodirphia pallida
soo-doh-DIRF-ee-uhMpal-LEE-duh
(Walker, 1855) Dirphia

Pseudodirphia pallida male, Tolima (Colombia), D. Bonilla & L.D. Ramirez

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 Pseudodirphia pallida moth (wingspan: males: 52-60mm; females: 60-75mm) flies in Colombia, but is restricted to the dry forests of the Magdalena valley (750 m).

Lemaire indicates it is probably/possibly found in Cundinamarca, Tolima and Huila at elevations from 600-1800m.

This very small moth has rounded forewings that are generally light in colour and may have a pinkish hue. The am and pm lines show a sharp contrast to the rest of the wing with their dark outlines.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in March, May, August-September.

Natural larval hosts are unknown, but Robinia is a likely choice and has been used with success by Kirby Wolfe for other species in this genus.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking her airbourne pheromone plume.

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.

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.

Robinia .......

Locust

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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.

Pseudodirphia was chosen as the genus name as these moths are very similar to those in the Dirphia genus.

The species name, pallida, probably refers to lighter ground colour of this species.