Description of female and early stages of Hispaniodirphia lemaireiana (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) with notes on its ecology

Hispaniodirphia lemaireiana Rougerie & Herbin, 2006 is an endemic saturniid moth restricted to the montane pine forests of Hispaniola. Here we provide the first description of the female and the first detailed accounts of the larva (final instar) and pupa. Larvae were observed in Sierra de Bahoruco National Park (Dominican Republic) at 1400–2000 m a.s.l., feeding on the endemic pine Pinus occidentalis Sw. Pupae were recovered from the soil beneath host trees, without a cocoon, at depths up to 10 cm. Female variation is documented and compared with Hispaniodirphia plana Lemaire, 1999. These data represent the first host-plant association reported for Hispaniodirphia and contribute to the biological knowledge of Hemileucinae in Caribbean montane ecosystems.