DISTRIBUTION: Rothschildia lebeau aroma flies in Honduras: Atlantida: La Ceiba (RL), Yoro: El Merendon (RL) Santa Barbara: San Jose de Los Andes (RL) at 250-1600m, and Francisco Morazan (RC) and probably in Cortes (WO); Guatemala: Izabal; Belize: Orange Walk, Cayo, Belize, Stann Creek and Toledo; and Mexico: Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Michoacan. Rothschildia lebeau aroma male, Honduras, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma male, Honduras, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma?? male, Boca Tapada, Alejuela, Costa Rica,
June 3, 2008, 957m, courtesy of Gernot Kunz, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma belongs to a group of four species: lebeau, cincta, prionia, paucidentata. All four species lack white scales on the outer margin of the hindwings. In lebeau subspecies the postmedian line is straight and only slightly dentate and irregularly waved in the area between the costa and the outer angle of the hyaline spot.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma male, Honduras, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

This subspecies greatly resembles l. inca, but tends to have a more brilliant ground colour, often dark brown, orange, pink. Occasionally there are some white scales in the outer margin of the forewing, but such scales are usually absent. The pink suffusions in the terminal areas seem more diffuse in lebeau subspecies as apposed to a more spiked apearance along wing veins in the inca group.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma, Guatemala, courtesy of Bedros Orchanian.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma male, Atlantida, Honduras, courtesy of Ronald D. Cave

Rothschildia lebeau aroma female, wingspan: 11.4cm, Honduras, courtesy of Ronald D. Cave

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Honduras Robert Lehman reports them on the wing in April, May, June and July.

This species will probably accept Ligustrum (privet), lilac, ailanthus and oak.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Like most of the Rothschildia, except for the diurnal zacateca, this species calls and pairs at night.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

It is interesting to watch Rothschildia fashion their cocoons. A strong peduncle with a few support silk strands secures the structure while the larva continues "padding its nest" with a continuous back-and-forth movement of the head.

There are both inner and outer cocoons, each with a relatively long valve to facilitate eclosions.

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.

Ailanthus altissima..... Ligustrum Quercus Syringa vulgaris

Ailanthus Privet Oak Common lilac

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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.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

"Rothschildia" is chosen to honour one of the Rothschilds, possibly William.

The species name, lebeau, is honourific for Lebeau, but I do not know the reason for the subspecies name aroma.

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On my home computer only: Rothschildia lebeau aroma male and female, Chiapas, Mexico.