Hyalophora mexicana
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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
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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
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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
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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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