DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudodirphia thiaucourti (wingspan: males: 66-78mm; females: 88-98mm) flies in
Ecuador: Sucumbios (HK), Napo, Morona-Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe and probably Pastaza; and
Peru: Junin, Cusco; at moderate elevations (700-1800m) along the eastern slopes of the Andes.

Pseudodirphia thiaucourti male, February 19, 2007, La Bonita, Sucumbios, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

The thorax is brown, often with long greyish brown hairs on the tegulae. The abdomen is yellow, ringed with black.

The forewing is elongate with an oblique outer margin. The basal area is brown to purplish grey. The rest of the wing is dark brown with a noticeably lighter, btu still brownish terminal area.

The lines are white, bordered on both sides with black. The veins are prominently marked in yellow-orange at their intersections with the lines. The post median line is slightly s-shaped, always turning toward the body under the costa where a white marking is prominent.

Pseudodirphia thiaucourti male (verso), February 19, 2007, La Bonita, Sucumbios, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species has been taken in Ecuador in February, April, August, October-November-December. It probably broods continuously in three to four month cycles.

Peter Bruce-Jones reports a June 14, 2010, flight in Shima, Junin, Peru, at 700m.

Larvae feed upon Robinia pseudoacacia in the lab.

Pseudodirphia thiaucourti female, Shima, Junin, Peru,
June 14 2010, 700m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones.

Pseudodirphia thiaucourti female, Shima, Junin, Peru,
June 14 2010, 700m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones.

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 thiaucourti courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

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.

Robinia pseudoacacia ......

False acacia/Black 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, thiaucourti is honourific for Thiaucourt.

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Pseudodirphia thiaucourti HT male, Cusco, Peru,
December 9, 1979, 1200m, on my home computer only.

Pseudodirphia thiaucourti AT female, Cusco, Peru,
December 9, 1979, 1200m, on my home computer only.