DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudodirphia uniformis (wingspan: males: 69-85mm; females: 87-108mm) flies in
Peru: Amazonas, Huanuco, Junin, Cusco, Madre de Dios, Puno;
Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba; and
Ecuador: Sucumbios, Orellana, Napo (WO/LR), Pastaza, Morona-Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe (LR); in low elevation Andean forests (200 - 1500m).

The specimens reported from Ecuador might?? be best assigned to some of the recently described species by Brechlin and Meister.

The thorax is brown to light grey. The abdomen is yellow, ringed with black.

The forewing basal area is buff/tan. The median and post median area are similar in colour, probably a bit greyer with some darker brown scaling. The subterminal band is darker grey.

The thin black am line is inwardly lined with white, and there is, at best, only a hint of a dark mark along the inner margin. The thin black pm line is also inwardly lined with white. The am and pm line are more distant along the inner margin than in P. obliqua.

Pseudodirphia uniformis male, 85mm,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species apparently has at least two broods with moths appearing in December-January-February, and May-June.

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.

Lemaire also reports Salix caprea.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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.

Pseudodirphia uniformis fifth instar, Pantiacolla Lodge, Manu, Cusco, Peru,
September 2008, 550m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones, id by Bill Oehlke.

Pseudodirphia uniformis fifth instar, Pantiacolla Lodge, Manu, Cusco, Peru,
September 2008, 550m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones, id by Bill Oehlke.

Pseudodirphia uniformis 5l, Napo, Ecuador,
1200m, on my home computer only, Claude Lemaire.

The images sent to me by Peter Bruce-Jones, mostly based on location, do not seem such a good match for uniformis when compared to Lemaire's image. Perhaps Peter's images are of something else and my original determination was/is incorrect.

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 Salix caprea .......

Locust Goat Willow

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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.

I do not know the reason for the species name, uniformis although wings are quite uniform in colour, but not so much as other species in the genus.