Silkmoths and more: Dirphia avialtoparanensis

Dirphia avialtoparenensis is one of the many species out of the South American Dirphia avia group and is in many aspects similar to the better known avia. The caterpillars are darker though. Otherwise they are pretty much the same. The rearing and the food plant preference is also the same as for avia. I used Carpinus betulus, but I could have used Prunus, Malus, Crataegus, Quercus, Fagus or Salix. It's a fairly large species with caterpillars growing up to nine centimeter. Keep them warm in well ventilated plastic containers. The larvae are not the fastest growers. It takes seven to eight weeks before they pupate. When they are ready they change color and start to wander around. At this point you can move them to small, individual plastic containers lined with toilet paper. In captivity they brood more or less continuously when kept warm, but it still might take a while before they emerge. It strongly depends on your rearing conditions.