When I (Bill Oehlke) first received the image above from Jalisco, Mexico, I tentatively identified it as Coloradia jaliscensis, mostly due to its location, but also due to the vibrant pink in the hindwings. When I placed the image on the jaliscensis page, it was clearly not a good match for jaliscensis. As far as I know, Lemaire, 2002, does not list any Coloradia species from Jalisco, and as of January 6, 2016, no new Coloradia species have been described from Jalisco except C. jaliscensis.

The hindwing markings, especially in the marginal area, as well as the nature of the forewing am line and distance of the fw pm line from the outer margin, are all suggestive of subspecies of Coloradia pandora. C. p. davisi is recognized as having the most southerly range into Mexico from the pandora group, but davisi is generally only listed from as far south as Durango.

I therefore think the images directly above above and directly below, both from Jalisco, either indicate an extension of the known range of davisi into Jalisco, Mexico, or the moths are an undescribed pandora subspecies or and undescribed new species. I do note that the hindwing dentate median line and dark cell mark are lighter than would be expected for davisi, based on other images on this page.

Coloradia pandora davisi, San Sebastian, Jalisco, Mexico,
March 12, 2015, courtesy of Graeme via Daniel Marlos; id by Bill Oehlke.

DISTRIBUTION:

Coloradia pandora davisi (wingspan: males: 61-78mm; females: 70-81mm) is darker and 15-20% smaller than nominate pandora. Subspecies davisi flies in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas; and in Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua, Mexico, and probably as far south as Jalisco.

Coloradia pandora davisi male, Sierra Diablo Mountains, Culberson County, Texas,
65mm, 18 September 1982, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

Coloradia pandora davisi female, Sierra Diablo Mountains, Culberson County, Texas,
88mm, 18 September 1982, courtesy/copyright Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies in mountain coniferous habitats from July to early September. Larvae feed on various species of pine.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Usually females scent just after emerging during the day or again from 2230 - 0100, and pairs stay coupled for just about two hours. Both sexes come to lights and both are also active during the day.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Females fly at night and lay clusters of 3-20 relatively large eggs on tree trunks, needles, and branches of pines. Eggs are green at first but turn bluish grey with a dark micropyle at maturity.

Coloradia pandora davisi female and eggs, Grand Canyon, Coconino County, Arizona,
September 4, 2011, courtesy of Suzy Szumowski via Betsy Higgins.

Incubation can last from three to seven weeks.

Larvae are highly gregarious at first with several caterpillars often feeding on a single pine needle. Larvae become more solitary as they mature, reaching lengths of 80 mm during their second summer. At the onset of cold weather larvae are usually small, only in second or early third instar. They congregate at the end of the branch at the base of the needles and hybernate until spring warmth starts new growth.

Coloradia pandora davisi on Ponderosa Pine, Kaibab Plateau,
June 16, 1985, courtesy of Jim Tuttle.

Subsequent moths emerge in the fall of next year, having spent one winter as tiny larvae and a second winter as pupae.

Pupation is in a loose cocoon/chamber just below surface debris.

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.

Pinus contorta Pinus ponderosa..... Pinus strobus Pinus sylvestris

Lodgepole pine Ponderosa pine Eastern white pine Scotch pine

Return to Main Index

Return to Coloradia Genus

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.

Coloradia, the genus name, was possibly chosen for the state of Colorado where Coloradia pandora, the genus specimen type, is widespread.

The species name pandora is from Greek mythology. Pandora was the "first woman on earth. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create her as vengeance upon man and his benefactor, Prometheus. The gods endowed her with every charm, together with curiosity and deceit. Zeus sent her as a wife to Epimetheus, Prometheus’ simple brother, and gave her a box that he forbade her to open. Despite Prometheus’ warnings, Epimetheus allowed her to open the box and let out all the evils that have since afflicted man. Hope alone remained inside the box."

The subspecies name is honourific for Davis.