DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudodirphia obguayana (wingspan: males: 80-92mm; females: 110-120mm) flies in
French Guiana: Cayenne Province, Kaw mountain area, 290 m., 21 km. NW of Kaw village, XII.2001; and in
Peru??.

Pseudodirphia obguayana male, 80mm,
on my home computer only.

Pseudodirphia obguayana male,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species has been taken in December-January. I suspect there are additional flight months.

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.

Pseudodirphia obliqua (more likely obguayana) female, Kaw, French Guiana,
Claude Lemaire, on my home computer only

Pseudodirphia obguayana female, January 13, 1992, Piste Matiti, French Guiana,
wingspan 110mm, image courtesy of Robert Levesque, via Antoine Guyonnet.

Pseudodirphia obguayana female, 120mm, French Guiana,
on my home computer only.

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. Pseudodirphia obguayana male, courtesy of Angelo Santin.

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. Image courtesy of Angelo Santin.

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, obguayana, probably refers to a specimen type locale in French Guiana, and possibly?? to a close similarity to P. obliqua.

Probably Pseudodirphia obguayana, fifth instar, Kaw, French Guiana,
on my home computer only, Claude Lemaire.