DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudodirphia nicjunensis (wingspan: males: mm; females: larger) flies in
Peru: Junin Dept., near Calabaza village, 17.XII.2010.

The thorax is black. The abdomen is dull yellow, ringed with black.

The ground colour is black. The forewing outer margin is convex. The white antemedial line is arced and meets the inner margin about one-third of its distance from the body. The wide, white, convex postmedial line is undulating on all four wings of this small dark species.

The description above applies to nicjunensis from Junin; nicamazonica from Amazonas; and niceros from San Martin and Pasco; all in Peru. Examination of genitalia or barcoding analysis might be necessary to distinguish between them. Perhaps more information will be forthcoming in the future. It does appear that nicjunensis may be lacking any vestiges of an am line.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species has been taken in December.

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:

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, nicjunensis, refers to the similarity to P. niceros and a specimen type locality in Junin, Peru.