DISTRIBUTION:

Citheronia hamifera (wingspan: males: 78-102mm; females: 115-122mm) flies in
Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo and Morona-Santiago and probably Pastaza;
Venezuela: Bolivar and Amazonas;
Trinidad: Caroni County (Caparo);
Guyana: Omai;
French Guiana: Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Saul, Kaw, Coralie;
Brazil: Para; Ceara (SB) and Matto Grosso;
Colombia: Caqueta;
Peru: Amazonas (LTR), Huanuco, Puno, Cuzco, and probably San Martin, Pasco and Junin;
Paraguay UD: northern Concepcion;
Argentina: Salta; and
probably in Surinam and
Bolivia.

The specimen type locale is Trinidad: Asa Wright Centre (MH).

It is very dificult to distinguish this species from brissotii.

Citheronia hamifera male, Satipo, Peru, by Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in February-March and in November suggesting two broods.

Vany and Dominique report a September flight in French Guiana.

Sylvia Barroso reports a March flight in Tiangua, Ceara, Brazil.

Citheronia hamifera hamifera male, November 10, 2004
Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach

Citheronia hamifera hamifera male, November 10, 2004
Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach

Citheronia hamifera hamifera male, February 7, 2004
Pununo, Napo, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach

Citheronia hamifera hamifera male verso, February 7, 2004
Pununo, Napo, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach

Citheronia hamifera larvae feed on Privet (Ligustrum), Sallow/Goat willow (Salix capraea) and Indian almond ( Terminalia catappa).

Citheronia hamifera female, Satipo, Peru, by Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

Visit Citheronia hamifera male, female, eggs and instars 2-5, Ecuador, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Visit Citheronia hamifera, French Guiana, September 9, 2007, courtesy of Vany and Dominique.

Visit Citheronia hamifera male, Tiangua, Ceara, Brazil, March 19, 2018, courtesy of Sylvia Barroso.

Visit Citheronia hamifera males, Concepcion, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

The slightly smaller, more brigthly coloured hamifera males use their more highly developed antennae to locate calling females at night. Males of this subfamily have antennae which are quadripectinate for the basal two-thirds of their length.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larvae are extremely colourful and armed with "horns" not as pronounced as some other members of this genus. Pupation is underground in a small cell.

Citheronia hamifera fourth instar, Peru, by Bernhard Wenczel.

Citheronia hamifera, fifth instar, from Peru courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Citheronia hamifera fifth instar, Ecuador, courtesy of Alan Marson.

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.

Ligustrum Salix capraea Terminalia catappa....

Privet Sallow/Goat willow Indian almond

Return to Citheronia Genus

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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 meaning of "hamifera" is 'bearing/carrying "hooks"'. This species' name probably refers to the thoracic tubercles or the spines emanating from them, or it may refer to some character of the genitalia??