DISTRIBUTION:

The Citheronia bellavista cinerea moth (wingspan: males: 77-103; females: 109-131mm) flies in semi-arid regions of western Ecuador: Esmeraldas (HK), Manabi, Guayas, Canar, Loja: Jorupe NP (PO), and probably Los Rios at elevations of 300-500 - 690m (PO).

This is a dull moth compared to other members of the genus, with greyish ground colour of body and wings.

Citheronia bellavista cinerea female, April 2006,
Muchin - Same (western Esmeraldas Province), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January-February and April, suggesting two broods.

Citheronia bellavista cinerea larvae probably feed on sumac.

Citheronia bellavista cinerea female (verso), April 2006,
Muchin - Same (western Esmeraldas Province), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

The slightly smaller, more brigthly coloured bellavista cinerea males use their more highly developed antennae to locate calling females at night.

Males of this subfamily and genus have antennae which are quadripectinate for the basal two-thirds of their length.

Citheronia bellavista cinerea, Urruca Lodge, Jorupe National Park, Loja, Ecuador,
February 18, 2011, 690m, courtesy of Pia Oberg.

Citheronia bellavista cinerea, Sorzoranga, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 1600m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher.

Citheronia bellavista cinerea (?? melanic specimen??),
Urraca Lodge, Jorupe Reserve, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher.

It could just be the lighting or a regional variation, but the images from Loja seem to have much more whitish hairs on the thorax compared to the yellower scales in the same area on those specimens from further north. Bill Oehlke

Visit recto and verso images of spread Citheronia bellavista cinerea, courtesy of Horst Kach.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Citheronia bellavista cinerea larvae are well-armed with thoracic scoli.

Pupation is underground in a small cell.

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.

Rhus .......

Sumac

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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.

The source of the genus name "Citheronia" is probably Mount Citheron (Greek mythology), an untamed wilderness, exempt from the laws of civilization. The goddesses go naked there and are free from any of the pressures of society.

The species name "bellavista" means beautiful view or picture.

The subspecies name "cinerea" refers to the ashy-grey overcast to the ground colour.

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