DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudodirphia eumedide (wingspan: males: 61-77-84(AC)mm; females: 82-99mm) flies in
Surinam;
French Guiana: Roura, Kaw, Piste de Coralie (AC), Riviere Orapu, Belizon, Cayene, Nancibo, Coralie, Kourou, Arataya, Saul, Regina, Barrage Petit Saut;
Venezuela: Bolivar, Territorio Federal Amazonas, Yaracuy; Trinidad and
Colombia: Caqueta, Cundinamarco, Choco; and probably Guyana in tropical rain forests and low to medium elevation Andean forests (150 - 1800 m). This species may also be in eastern Ecuador: Orellana (LTR).

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, 64mm, Ecuador, courtesy of Kelly Price, id by Bill Oehlke

P. eumedide and P. eumedidoides are very similar, but I have identified the Kelly Price specimen as P. eumedide because of the strongly contrasting colours on the forewings, the continuous and relatively wide white pm line, bordered on both sides by black, the prominent black dot along the inner margin, just below the outward extension of the am line.

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, Piste de Coralie, French Guiana,
84mm, November 2010, courtesy of Alex Cahurel.

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, St. George, Trinidad,
March 24, 2015, courtesy of Steve Nanz.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably broods continuously in three to four month cycles.

In French Guiana specimens have been taken in January-February-March, April-May, July-August and November-December. Larvae feed upon Crataegus oxycantha, Fagus sylvatica, Laburnum anagyroides, Quercus ilex, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Ulmus campestris. Salix caprea has also been utilized successfully.

Pseudodirphia eumedide female, February 23, 1992, Piste Matiti, French Guiana,
wingspan 99mm, image courtesy of Robert Levesque, via Antoine Guyinnet.

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, St. George, Trinidad,
March 24, 2015, courtesy of Steve Nanz.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, St. George, Trinidad,
March 24, 2015, courtesy of Steve Nanz.

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, ASA Wright Nature Centre, Arima, St. George, Trinidad,
March 24, 2015, courtesy of Steve Nanz.

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.

Crataegus oxycantha Fagus sylvatica Laburnum anagyroides....... Quercus ilex Robinia pseudoacacia Salix caprea Ulmus campestris

English hawthorn European beech Golden-chain Holly/Holm oak Black locust/False acacia Goat Willow English elm

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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 origin of the species name, eumedide. Possibly it refers to the Furies in Mythology.

The following images may or may not appear on your monitor, depending upon whether or not I get permission from respective photographers/owners to display them. I do have permission for my own private use.

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, Belizon, French Guiana,
February 2001, Daniel Prin, French Guiana Systematique.

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, Regina, French Guiana,
December 10, 1999, Andre Cloud, French Guiana Systematique.

Pseudodirphia eumedide male, Barrage Petit Saut, French Guiana,
April 20, 2006, Rene Lehousse, French Guiana Systematique.