Othorene verana
oh-theh-REE-nehMver-ANN-uh
Schaus, 1900

Othorene verana male, Mexico, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Ceratocampinae, Harris, 1841 Genus: Othorene, Boisduval, 1872

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DISTRIBUTION:

Othorene verana (wingspan: males: 72-94mm; females: 100-114mm) flies in
Mexico: Nuevo Leon, Hidalgo, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, Dos Amates and Chiapas;
Belize: Cayo: Las Cuevas (NS) and Toledo;
Guatemala;
Honduras: Atlantida, Cortés, Francisco Morazán, Yoro (all confirmed by Ronald D. Cave);
Nicaragua; Madriz, Esteli, Jinotega, Matagalpa;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste and Cartago (CL), Alajuela, Puntarenas (IB); and
Panama: Chiriqui; and
probably in El Salvador.

In the male, the pm line is slightly preapical and slightly darker than the reddish brown ground colour. The convex outer margin and the outer edge of the pm line as well as the inner edge of a weak am line are highlighted with violet-lilac scales. The thorax has two longitudinal lines and also frequently shows some of the violet-lilac scales/hairs. One or two small white marks are evident in the cell. Basal and postmedian areas tend to be slightly lighter than median area.

With the advent of DNA barcoding analysis, several new species/subspecies have been designated as belonging to the Verana Group. I am not sure where the range of one species/subspecies begins and/or ends or if some are sympatric, engulfed or engulfing.

Othorene verana verana mfwl=33-39mm, Mexico: San Luis Potosi and eastern Mexico; orangey ground colour; pm line bends down toward i.m.
Othorene verana veroaxensis mfwl=42-48mm, Mexico: Oaxaca;
Othorene verana verapaziana mfwl=37-44mm, Guatemala: Alta Verapaz; Baja Verapaz; Solola; Izabal; dark brown ground colour; pm line bends down toward i.m.
Othorene bernardoespinozai mfwl=34-38mm, Costa Rica: Guanacaste; Nicaragua: Jinotega; orangey ground colour; undulating fw outer margin

Female Othorene verana by Leroy Simon.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Othorene verana have at least two broods annually with peak flights in February-March and May-June.

Larvae feed upon Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) and other oak species (Quercus oleoides).

Visit Othorene verana female, Las Cuevas, Cayo, Belize, courtesy of Norm Smith.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking the airbourne pheromone plume.

Both sexes come in to lights with peak activity from 10:30 pm until 1:30 am.

Othorene verana male (Mexico) courtesy of Dr. Manuel A. Balcazar Lara

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Enlarged thoracic, dorsal scoli are greatly diminished by final instar, and larvae show colour variations similar to Eacles imperialis, having both green and brown forms.

The blue spiracular ovals are not as visible in the green form as they are in the brown form. Fifth instar images are courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Othorene verana larva ready to pupate, Mexico, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

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.

Quercus gambelii Quercus oleoides...... Quercus robur (TD)

Gambel oak Oak species English oak

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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.

I do not know the origin of the genus name Othorene.

Nor do I know the reason for the species name "verana".

Othorene verana verana male, 79mm, San Luis Potosi, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

Othorene verana verana female, 102mm, San Luis Potosi, Mexico,
on my home computer only.