Hyalophora mexicana
Updated as per personal communication with Derek Bridgehouse, November 3, 2014; July 27, 2016; March 14, 2022
Updated as per The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera, Volume: 47: 49-63, October, 2014; November 3, 2014

Hyalophora mexicana
Nassig, Nogueira, Naumann, 2014

Hyalophora mexicana male, Sierra Madre Occidental, Guanajuato, Mexico,
courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse, slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Hyalophora mexicana male, Sierra Fria, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Mexico,
102mm, August 16, 2020, 2350m, courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse, 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

DISTRIBUTION:

Hyalophora mexicana (approximate wingspan: males: 102-105-125mm; females: ?? // forewing length: males: 64-78mm; females: ??) flies in
Mexico: Sierra Occidental: Zacatecas; Guanajuato; at elevations between 1966-2350m.

This species has an almost uniform reddish-orange-brown ground colour and appears most similar to Hyalophora euryalus, but white cell markings are more rounded, less elongated than found in euryalus. It is a large species and has a reduced quarter circle band of blue scales in the apical ocellus, and relatively straight postmedian lines are not undulating.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is probably just one brood, with moths on the wing in July-August. There may be additional flight months (June).

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 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

Maple; unlikely
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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On my home computer only: Hyalophora mexicana

Hyalophora mexicana HT male, 125mm, on my home computer only,
digital repair by Bill Oehlke.