Pseudodirphia knorkei
Updated as per personal communication with Frank Meister, January 2008

Pseudodirphia knorkei
soo-doh-DIRF-ee-uhMNOR-key-eye
Frank Meister & Pierre Schmit 2004

Pseudodirphia knorkei male, courtesy of Frank Meister

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 knorkei flies in Argentina: Jujuy: Calilegua in the Yungas jungle.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species possibly broods continuously in three to four month cycles.

Larval hosts are unknown.

Pseudodirphia knorkei female, courtesy of Frank Meister

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, knorkei, is probably honourific for Knorke.