Pseudodirphia catarinensis
Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, December 16, 2005
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, December 16, 2005
Updated as per personal communication with Carlos Mielke (Parana), April 2008

Pseudodirphia catarinensis
soo-doh-DIRF-ee-uhmmcagh-tuh-ree-NENS-ihs
(Lemaire, 1975) Dirphiopsis

Pseudodirphia catarinensis male, ALBCOL, 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: Pseudodirphia, Bouvier, 1928

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DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudodirphia catarinensis (wingspan: males: 91-94mm; females: 125mm) flies in
Brazil: Parana (CM) and Santa Catarina: Sao Bento do Sul at 750-850m.

The forewing is a uniform grey-beige with a purplish tinge. Lines are purplish-grey with the pm line being noticeably concave.

Pseudodirphia catarinensis male, ALBCOL, on my home computer only.

Pseudodirphia catarinensis male, Sao Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
750m, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species has thus far only been taken in March, but there is probably at least one additional flight. Larval hosts are unknown.

Pseudodirphia catarinensis female, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking their airbourne pheromone plume.

At rest, moths fold wings over the body in typical Hemileucinae style.

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.


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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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, catarinensis, is indicative of the collection site in Santa Catarina.