DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia triloba (approx. wingspan: males: 125-140mm; females ?) flies in Costa Rica: Guanacaste (DJ), Cartago, Puntarenas (CL), Limon (KP), Alajuela, Heredia, San Jose (IB); Nicaragua: Route de Managua a Jinotega; and Panama: Chiriqui, Canal Zone; at lower elevations than R. orizaba. Males are more orange in color than R. orizaba. as well (in addition to the rather distinct hyaline area, all three sides inwardly curved). The postmedial line is quite distant from the outer margin, compared to other subspecies and other members of the genus. The image below appears to be a dark specimen from Limon Province. This moth was once treated as a subspecies of R. orizaba but it has been elevated to full species status as Rothschildia triloba. The prothoracic collar of the Orizaba Group (orizaba, aurota, chiris, roxana) is brown, only slightly bordered in white. These moths tend to be very large. Rothschildia triloba, near Turrialba (Cartago Province), Costa Rica, courtesy of Andrew Walker via Wayne Whaley.

Rothschildia orizaba triloba, Limon, Costa Rica, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Rothschildia triloba, male, Tapanti, Cartago, Costa Rica,
127mm, 1165m, courtesy of Kelly Price, id by Bill Oehlke.

Rothschildia orizaba triloba female, copyright protected, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

Visit Rothschildia triloba male (recto and verso), Mount Totumas Cloud Forest Farm, Chiriqui, Panama, courtesy of Jeffrey Dietrich. I am not sure of the identification of this moth. It is at higher elevation (1650m +) than would be expected for triloba, but it is much more orangey than would be expected for orizaba. The hyaline areas are also different from what one ould expect from either of those two species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

"Orizaba subspecies are on the wing during the rainy season for their respective areas and produce multiple broods. (I have not reared this one and apparently females are rather rare. It is likely they would do well on cherry and possibly privet."--Chris Conlan)

I believe some taxonomists have elevated triloba to full species status.

Albert Thurman reports that larvae from Chiriqui, Panama, are eating California pepper, Schinus molle.

Rothschildia triloba female courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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.

In the first instar, larvae are gregarious, feeding from the undersides of leaves. Larvae become more solitary as they progress. Dan Janzen photographs from Costa Rica.

Larvae get quite large and bulky. The body is a darker green with decidedly more "hair" below the subspiracular line.

Rothschildia orizaba triloba larva, copyright protected, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

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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, triloba, is for the three lobes of each hyaline spot.

Rothschildia triloba, male, Costa Rica, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Rothschildia triloba, female, Costa Rica, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.