DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia schmiti (approximate wingspan: males: 86mm; females: 100mm // Mfwl: 41-43mm; Ffwl: 50mm) flies in
Bolivia: Santa Cruz; Beni; at elevations of approximately 320-1350m.

I had originally received the image at the top of the page from Thibaud Decaens and Greg Lecourt as Dirphia rubricauda, but I think rubricauda is now regarded as strictly Brazilian in range, with D. schmiti replacing it in Bolivia. I could be wrong. Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in July and October. There are probably additional flight months.

Larvae feed upon West Indian Locust (Hymenaea courbaril) and West Indian Cedar (Cedrela odorata).

Dirphia schmitti female, Santa Cruz, Bolivia,
on my home computer only.

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:

White eggs with a black micropyle are laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously.

Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphia species all have urticating spines.

The species name is honourific for Pierre Schmit.

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.

Cedrela odorata Crataegus oxyacantha...... Fagus sylvatica Hymenaea courbaril Malus Prunus Quercus ilex Salix

West Indian Cedar English hawthorn European Beech West Indian Locust Apple Cherry/Plum Holly/Holm oak Willow

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