Dirphia proserpina

Dirphia proserpina
Lemaire, 1982

Dirphia proserpina male, Pichincha, Ecuador,
2385m, on my home comuter only.

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:

Dirphia proserpina (wingspan: males: 71-75mm; females: probably larger) flies in
western Ecuador: Pichincha; at elevations near 2385m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been observed in January-February and in May, suggesting at least two broods.

Larval hosts are unknown.

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:

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 foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

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