Hyalophora leonis
Hyalophora leonis
Nassig, Nogueira, Naumann, 2014
Hyalophora leonis male, 117mm, Nuevo Leon, Mexico,
courtesy of Kelly Price, slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.
TAXONOMY:
Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 or
Attacinae, Blanchard,1840
Tribe: Attacini, Blanchard, 1841
Genus: Hyalophora, Duncan, 1841
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MIDI MUSIC
"Moon River"
copywright C. Odenkirk
MIDI CITY
ON.OFF
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DISTRIBUTION:
Hyalophora leonis (approximate wingspan: males: 117mm; females: ?? // forewing length: males: mm; females: ??) flies in
Mexico: Nuevo Leon: Coahuila, Sierra Madre Oriental.
Hyalophora leonis male, Sierra Mardre Oriental, Nuevo Leon, Mexico,
courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse.
Hyalophora leonis "is a medium-sized to large species within the genus. It is unique in the genus by the combination of its carmine red ground colour, the
relatively wide white ante- and postmedian lines and marginal area, the small, somewhat rounded forewing ocellular patches in combination with drop-like patches of
the hindwing, the huge blue portion of the subapical ocellus, the striking white tufts on both male and female abdomen; and in male genitalia the shape of the
valves, especially the ventral part, appears to be diagnostic."
Hyalophora leonis male, Mexico, courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse,
slight digital repair to right forewing outer margin by Bill Oehlke.
FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:
There is probably just one brood, with moths on the wing (probably) in July. There may be additional
flight months (June and or August).
Caterpillars probably feed on a wide range of plants, but the natural host is unknown.
ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:
Female moths extend a scent gland from the posterior of the
abdomen at night, and males, flying into the wind, are able to follow the plume and locate the female.
EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:
Females glue eggs singly or in clumps on leaves of the host plant.
The eggs hatch in 9-14 days and the caterpillars
consume foliage.
The "assumed" bottle-shaped, double-walled cocoon is spun in the outer part of the host plant and is attached to a
twig by only one-half to two-thirds its length, leaving the valved-neck free in the air.
Larval Food Plants
It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of an anticipated alternative foodplant will
prove useful. Natural foodplant is unknown as of 2014. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.
Acer glabrum Alnus rubra
Amelanchier alnifolia Amelancher florida Arctostaphylos glauca Arctostaphylos patula
Betula occidentalis Ceanothus cordulatus
Ceanothus integerrimus Ceanothus sanguineus Ceanothus velutinus
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus....... Cephalanthus Coffea Laryx laricina
Liquidambar styraciflua Malus pumila
Photinia arbutifolia Picea Prunus demissa Prunus emarginata
Prunus serotina Prunus virginiana Pseudotsuga menziesii
Purshia tridentata Pyrus malus Quercus
Rhamnus californicus Rhamnus crocea Rhamnus purshiana
Rhus arbutus Rhus laurina Ribes alpinum Ribes sanguineum Rosa Salix babylonica
Salix discolor Salix exigua
Schinus molle Shepherdia argentea Shepherdia canadensis Syringa vulgaris
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Maple Red alder
Western serviceberry Western serviceberry Black bearberry Greenleaf manzanita
Mountain/Water birch Mountain whitethorn Deer brush Ceanothus Snowbrush
Blueblossom/Cat's claw Buttonbush Coffee Tamarack
Sweetgum Apple
Christmasberry Spruce Western chokecherry Bitter cherry Wild black cherry
Chokecherry Douglas fir
Antelope bitter brush Apple Oak
California coffee-berry Hollyleaf buckthorn Cascara
Sumac Laurel sumac Alpine currant Currant Rose Weeping willow
Pussy willow Sandbar willow
California peppertree........... Silver buffaloberry Soapberry Lilac
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