DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia orizaba verapaziana (wingspan: males: : females: mm // forewing length: males: 69-76mm; females: 67-74mm) flies in
Guatemala: Alta Verapaz; San Marcos; Guatemala; Quetzaltenango; Sacatepequez; Solola; Baja Verapaz; Mexico: Chiapas; Honduras; Nicaragua: Jinotega; Rio San Juan; Nueva Segovia; Matagalpa; at elevations of 40-2390m.

Based on the Entomo-Satsphingia publication, it appears that subspecies verapaziana replaces nominate orizaba throughout most if not all of Guatemala and much of Nicaragua, parts of Honduras and Chiapas, Mexico. This subspecies is very similar to R. o. orizaba and possibly only DNA barcoding can really distinguish between them.

Philippe Brems sent me three images of specimens from Guatemala, all from areas designated for subspecies verapazaiana according to the publication. The image at the top of the page is the best match for the HT of verapaziana, while, to my mind, the next two images are closer to Rothschildia orizaba orizaba. Perhaps there is as much variation within the subspecies as there is between the subspecies. Perhaps they are not really different; perhaps they are sympatric in some areas and verapaziana should have full species status. Bill Oehlke

Rothschildia orizaba verapaziana male, 130mm, Las Nubes, San Martin, Quezaltenango,
Secatepequez, Guatemala, 1770m, courtesy of Philippe Brems, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Rothschildia orizaba verapaziana male, 130mm, Ranchitos del Quetzal,
Baja Verapaz, Guatemala, 1660m, courtesy of Philippe Brems, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in May-June-July-August-September. There may be additiona flight months.

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 anticipated 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. 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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a male contempory/friend/collector/etc.

The genus name "Rothschildia" probably was chosen to honour W. Rothschild.

The species and subspecies names, "orizaba verapaziana," are indicative of a similarity to R. orizaba and a specimen type locale in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.