Asthenidia transversaria salax
Jordan, 1924

Asthenidia transversaria salax male, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 or Family: Oxytenidae, Jordan, 1924 Subfamily: Oxyteninae, Jordan, 1924 Genus: Asthenidia, Westwood, 1879

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DISTRIBUTION:

Asthenidia transversaria salax (wingspan: 51mm) flies in
Costa Rica: Dominical, Nauyaca, Puntarenas, (20m-1200m); and in
Nicaragua: Rio Wanks; Chontales; more often at or below 100m.

Asthenidia transversaria salax, San Jose, Cartago, Costa Rica,
March 16, 2012, courtesy of Matthew Kritzer, Project Noah.

In some taxonomies, the Oxyteninae are treated as a subfamily of Oxytenidae rather than as a subfamily of Saturniidae.

Asthenidia transversaria salax, Costa Rica, December 27, 2007.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Asthenidia transversaria salax moth probably broods continuously. Dan Janzen indicates the following larval hosts: Chimarrhis parviflora, Guettarda foliacea, Pentagonia donnell-smithii, Rondeletia costaricensis, Sabicea panamensis and Uncaria tomentosa in the Rubiaceae family.

Asthenidia transversaria salax, San Mateo, Costa Rica,
November-December, courtesy of Ryan Saint Laurent, Cornell University Collection.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Asthenidia transversaria salax female, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Like the other Oxyteninae, Asthenidia larvae have sticky glands on all body segments.

Asthenidia transversaria salax 23mm, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Asthenidia transversaria salax 35mm, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Asthenidia transversaria salax 45mm, Costa Rica, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Larval Food Plants

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.

Chimarrhis parviflora Guettarda foliacea Pentagonia donnell-smithii ........ Rondeletia costaricensis Sabicea panamensis Uncaria tomentosa

Chimarrhis parviflora Guayabo demonte Pentagonia donnell-smithii ........ Rondeletia costaricensis Sabicea panamensis Uncaria tomentosa

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