Pseudodirphia guyanensis
Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, December 16, 2005
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, October 3, 2006

Pseudodirphia guyanensis
soo-doh-DIRF-ee-uhmmghee-an-ENS-ihs
(Lemaire, 1975) Dirphiopsis

Pseudodirphia guyanensis HT male, Nouveau Chantier, French Guiana,
December, on my home computer only.

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 guyanensis (wingspan: males: 75-90mm; females: larger) flies in French Guiana: Haut Maroni: Maripasoula.

The wings are very uniform in colouration without distinctive markings. There is a slight violet cast to otherwise dull brown wings.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species probably has two to three broods each year. The HT male was taken in December.

Natural larval hosts are unknown, but Robinia is a likely choice and has been used with success by Kirby Wolfe.

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 are 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 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, guyanensis is for the collecting location in French Guiana.