Pseudodirphia andicola
Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, December 16, 2005
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, December 16, 2005; February 21, 2009
Updated as per personal communication with Horst Kach (Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador, October 16, 2007); June 1, 2009

Pseudodirphia andicola
soo-doh-DIRF-ee-uhmman-dih-COH-luh
Bouvier, 1930

Pseudodirphia andicola courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Pseudodirphia, Bouvier, 1928

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DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudodirphia andicola (wingspan: males: 62-68mm; females: 71-95mm) flies in
Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo, Pastaza, Tungurahua, Morona-Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe;
Peru: Huanuco, Junin, Cusco, Puno; and
Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba.

It has been taken at elevations from 700m to 2150m.

The prothoracic collar is yellow. The thorax is brown to orange brown with some yellow on the tegulae. The abdomen is yellow, ringed with black.

Pseudodirphia andicola male, Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador,
October 16, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Forewing, except for the lines, is almost a uniform orangey-brown. The white am line is almost straight and is narrowly outlined in black outwardly. The pm line is also white, usually straight to slightly s-shaped, and it is also narrowly outlined in black outwardly. There is a slight white enlargement of the pm line just below the costa.

The veins tend to be black even where they intersect the pm line, only orange at the lowest intersection with the am line.

This moth is taken at elevations between 700m and 2150m.

Pseudodirphia andicola male (verso), Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador,
October 16, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably broods continuously in three to four month cycles. Specimens have been taken in January-May, August, October-November-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:

Eggs are deposited in clusters or rings. Larvae (unknown) are probably gregarious and are well equipped with urticating spines. A light, single-walled cocoon is spun among leaf litter.

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, andicola, indicates and Andean species.


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