Pseudodirphia herbuloti
Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, December 16, 2005
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, October 3, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with Pia Oberg (Bellavista Lodge, Tandayapa Pass, 2000m, Pichincha, Ecuador, August 20 2005); November 30, 2011

Pseudodirphia herbuloti
soo-doh-DIRF-ee-uhmmher-BEWE-lot-eye
(Lemaire, 1975) Dirphiopsis

Pseudodirphia herbuloti Bellavista Lodge, Tandayapa Pass, Pichincha, Ecuador,
2000m, August 20, 2005, courtesy Pia Oberg.

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 herbuloti (wingspan: males: 71-76mm; females: 88-95mm) flies in western Ecuador: Pichincha: Quito, Tandapi; and Cotopaxi.

This species lacks yellow to copper colour on wing vein intersection with pm line. The forewing am and pm lines are pinkish, and the veins remain black where they intersect the lines.

Pseudodirphia herbuloti Bellavista Lodge, Tandayapa Pass, Pichincha, Ecuador,
2000m, August 20, 2005, courtesy Pia Oberg.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species probably broods continuously in three to four month cycles. Specimens have been recorded in January-March, May, July-August, and October in habitats with elevations between 1600 and 2400m. Luigi Racheli reports them on the wing in July.

Natural larval hosts are unknown, but Robinia is a likely choice and has been used with success by Kirby Wolfe for other species in this genus.

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 anticipated 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, herbuloti, is honourific for Herbulot.


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

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