DISTRIBUTION:

Cerodirphia candida (wingspan: males: 54-63mm; females: 67-77mm) flies in
Colombia: Valle, Choco; and
in northwestern Ecuador: Pichincha (CL & HK) and possibly Esmeraldas (WO) at elevations ranging from 30m to 1400m.

Cerodirphia candida female, Pichincha Province, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Cerodirphia candida female (verso), Pichincha Province, Ecuador,
April 13, 2004, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Luigi Racheli indicates it is common in Alluriquin, but seems rare in Tandapi at higher altitude.

The ground colour is light pink. There are long extensions to the outer margin of the Y-shaped marking. The inner black streak is unbroken and houses an internal white streak.

It has been taken at elevations between 30m and 1400m.

Cerodirphia candida courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably broods continuously and is on the wing in all months except December-February.

Cerodirphia candida pair, Ecuador, April 2005, courtesy of Andreas Riekert.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking their airbourne pheromone plumes.

Cerodirphia candida male, Pichincha, Ecuador, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larve feed gregariously and have urticating spines.

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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