DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia rubricauda (wingspan: males: 72-98mm; females: 98-107mm) flies in humid and dry savannas (250-1000m)in
Brazil: Goias, Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso, Sao Paulo; and
Bolivia: Beni (TD).

I think that Dirphia rubricauda is now regarded as an exclusively Brazilian species, with similar specimens from Bolivia now classified as D. schmiti. Bill Oehlke

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January, October, November, December, suggesting at least two broods. Larval hosts are unknown.

Dirphia rubricauda female, Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
October 19, 2011, courtesy of Wolfgang Walz Hillerman, id by Bill Oehlke

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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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