DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphiopsis trisignata (wingspan male: 53 mm; female: 90 mm) flies in
Paraguay: Guaira CL, and (Canindeyu, AltoParana, Caaguazu UD),and (maybe Caazapa and Itapua), and
Brazil: Distrito Federal, Goias, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande Do Sul.

Ezequiel Osvaldo Núñez Bustos sent me a paper in August 2015 which includes Dirphiopsis trisignata in northeastern Argentina: Misiones: Iguazu.

Dirphiopsis trisignata pair, (wingspan male: 53 mm; female: 90 mm)
Male: Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil;
Female: Morro Reuter, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil;
courtesy of Eurides Furtado copyright

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larry Valentine reports November 9, 2010, February 3, 2011, November 7, 2012, flights in Itanhandu, southeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil. It has also been observed on the wing in January-March, September-October, and December. Marcelo Massari reports a late March flight in Juquitiba, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Larvae feed upon Eucalyptus saligna and Quercus robur and Prunus laurocerasus.

Dirphiopsis trisignata male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
November 9, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

Dirphiopsis trisignata male (verso), Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 3, 2011, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

Dirphiopsis trisignata male, Juquitiba, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
March 29, 2016, courtesy of Marcelo Massari.

Visit Dirphiopsis trisignata males, November 9, 2010, and February 3, 2011, and November 7, 2012, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking their airbourne pheromone plume. Dirphiopsis trisignata male, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel. EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE: Eggs are laid in large clusters and larvae feed gregariously. Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphiopsis species all have urticating spines. 5th, lateral view 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. Eucalyptus saligna ......... Quercus robur Prunus laurocerasus Sydney Blue Gum English oak Kirschlorbeer Return to Main Saturniidae Index Return to Dirphiopsis Index