Pseudodirphia agis inflexa (Bouvier, 1930) male, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil,
copyright protected, courtesy of Tom Binter, February 2004.

DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudodirphia agis agis (wingspan: males: 67-91mm; females: 97-123mm) flies in
Suriname;
French Guiana: Roura, Kaw, Riviere Orapu, Riviere Comte, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni;
Colombia: Boyaca, Meta, and probably Caqueta and Putamayo;
Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo, Morona-Santiago, and probably Pastaza, (Zamora Chinchipe, agis nr (LR));
Brazil: (Amazonas (TB)), Rondonia, Mato Grosso, Distrito Federal, Goias, Sao Paulo;
Peru: Huanuco, Pasco (EvS), Junin, Cusco, Madre de Dios;
Bolivia: La Paz, Santa Cruz; and
Venezuela: Bolivar, Miranda, Barinas, Tachira.

Specimens have been taken at elevations from 105m to 1300m.

Brechlin and Meister put forward many new Pseudodirphia descriptions/names in 2008, and I think that P. agis may now have a much more limited range in Suriname, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, and northern Brazil, being replaced by other species in the Andean region and in southern Brazil and Boliva. I will be moving some of the images from this page, based on that interpretation. Bill Oehlke

Pseudodirphia agis male, 86mm, Regina, French Guiana,
February 2006, courtesy of Alex Cahurel.

Pseudodirphia agis male, Venezueala,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Pseudodirphia agis male, Pasco, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Pseudodirphia agis male, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Subspecies Pseudodirphia agis inflexa is known from Mato Grosso and Amazonas, Brazil, and is characterized by the flexed forewing antemedian line.

The diagnosis of the specimen listed as inflexa (above) is my own. The specimen does not differ from specimens depicted as both inflexa and nominate agis presented by Lemaire.

Robert Perger provides the following image from Coroico, Yungas, Bolivia, mid November 2008.

3 weeks ago in a valley (1100m). The GPS-Data is 16°12 67°47 (a village of my wife´s uncle).

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species probably broods continuously in three to four month cycles. Natural larval hosts are unknown, but Robinia is a likely choice and has been used with success by Kirby Wolfe.

Pseudodirphia agis female, Venezueala,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Pseudodirphia agis female, French Guiana,
December 8, 2001, Robert Vande Merghel, French Guiana Systematique.

Pseudodirphia agis pair, French Guiana, courtesy of G. Lecourt.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters or rings. Larvae are gregarious and are well equipped with urticating spines. A light, single-walled cocoon is spun among leaf litter.

Pseudodirphia agis agis larva, copyright protected, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

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.

Robinia .......

Locust

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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.

Pseudodirphia was chosen as the genus name as these moths are very similar to those in the Dirphia genus.

The species name, agis, is for a mythological King of Sparta.

The following images may or may not appear on your monitor, depending upon whether or not I get permission from respective photographers/owners to display them. I do have permission for my own private use.

Pseudodirphia agis male, Kaw, French Guiana,
November 13, 2001, Rene Lehousse, French Guiana Systematique.