Dirphia thliptophana pacifica

Dirphia thliptophana pacifica
Lemaire, 1981

Dirphia thliptophana pacifica, PT male, Anchicaya, Valle, Colombia,
December 13, 1975, 1000m, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer 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

DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia thliptophana pacifica (wingspan: males: 85-90mm; females: 105-112mm) flies in western Colombia: Choco: Rio San Juan (HT); Valle: Yatacue; Anchicaya; at low elevations (40-1000m).

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January, July-August, October and December, suggesting at least three broods annually. Larval hosts are unknown.

Dirphia thliptophana pacifica, AT female, Rio San Juan, Choco, Colombia,
July 24, 1974, 30m, Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only.

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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