Dirphia ursina
DIRF-ee-uhmmur-SINE-uh
Walker, 1855

Dirphia ursina male, on my home computer only.

DISTRIBUTION:

Dirphia ursina (wingspan: males: 98-104mm; females: 88-108mm) flies in
Bolivia: Cochabamba; Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz, and in
northwestern Argentina: Mendoza, and probably San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, Salta and Jujuy, at high elevations. This species may be limited to the more northern westerly provinces in Argentina. Phricodia jorgenseni has been reclassified as Dirphia ursina.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in February, May and November, suggesting at least three broods annually. Larvae feed upon wisteria and Schinus gracilipes.

Male Dirphia ursina courtesy of Leroy Simon

I believe the specimens and larvae depicted on this page are more likely Dirphia moderata due to smooth rather than dentate am and pm lines of adult moths.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

OVA, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Typical of the Subfamily Hemileucinae, Dirphia species all have urticating spines. Photos courtesy of Leroy Simon. I believe the specimens and larvae depicted on this page are more likely Dirphia moderata due to smooth rather than dentate am and pm lines of adult moths.

There is sometimes colour variation among the larvae. Lemaire indicates the sixth instar of Dirphia moderata has the black spines of the larva depicted to the right.

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.

Schinus gracilipes...... Wisteria

Peppertree Wisteria

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Dirphia" chosen by Hubner in 1819.

The species name "ursina" perhaps indicates the dark, bear-like colouration of this species.

Dirphia ursina (female) courtesy of Leroy Simon.

I believe the specimens and larvae depicted on this page are more likely Dirphia moderata due to smooth rather than dentate am and pm lines of adult moths.