Trosia dimas explained

Trosia dimas, the rosy ermine, is a moth in the family Megalopygidae. It is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, and Peru.

Taxonomy

The first description of this species was by Pieter Cramer in 1775, who named it Bombyx dimas. Subsequent authors placed it in the genera Chrysauge, Idalus, and Sciathos until Harrison Dyar, following Hübner in 1822, assigned it to Trosia, where it has remained.

Description

This species has a wingspan of about . The head, abdomen, and legs are reddish and the tarsi black, spotted with white. The collar and thorax are yellowish buff, the latter spotted with red. The forewings are greenish yellow, with a postmedial row of black spots. The hindwings are roseate. The underside is dull roseate. In this species, the costa of the forewings is of the same color as the wing.^[1]

Habitat

Trosia dimas is found in rainforests and cloud-forest at altitudes between 300mand1700mm (1,000feetand5,600feetm).^[2] The Byrsonima coccolobifolia is the host plant of Trosia dimas.^[3]

Range

Trosia Dimas has been observed in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil and Peru. Observations recorded in various collections and citizen science initiatives suggest the range where this species occurs is from South America to North America

Taxonomy

Trosia dimas is a species in the genus Trosia. It was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1775.

Notes and References

1. Schaus. William. 1906. Descriptions of new South American moths. Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 29. 179–345.
2. Web site: Moths of the Andes - Trosia dimas. 2020-12-12. www.learnaboutbutterflies.com.
3. Diniz, I. R., Morais, H. C., & Camargo, A. J. A. (2001). Host plants of lepidopteran caterpillars in the cerrado of the Distrito Federal, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 45(2), 107-122.