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Updated as per
Heppner's Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera Checklist: Part 4B, 1996, December 2, 2005
Lemaire's Ceratocampinae, December 2, 2005 Updated as per communication from Jean Michel Maes (Nicaragua), March 2007 Updated as per http://www.inbio.ac.cr/bims/k02/p05/c029/o0119/f00885.htm IB |
This site has been created by
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.
TAXONOMY:Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 |
"WhatAWonderfulWorld" |
The forewing is a dull greyish colour with reduced yellow spots except at the apex.
Citheronia lobesis lobesis female, by Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel.
Citheronia lobesis larvae feed on Bursera simaruba, Calycophyllum candidissimum, Cochlospermum vitifolium, Phoradendron quadrangulare, Psidium guajava and Spondias mombin.
Citheronia lobesis lobesis female, by Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel.
Citheronia lobesis lobesis female, by Claude Lemaire (on my home computer only).
Males use their more highly developed antennae (quadripectinate for basal two-thirds) to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky.The males fly in a zigzag pattern into the wind to pickup the scent plume. Note the filiaform antennae on this newly emerged lobesis female. She must now pump fluid into her stubby wings in a process that will take apporxiately 20-30 minutes. All newly emerged lepidoptera need to climb, hang and inflate otherwise soft stubby wings in preparation for flight. Females usually do not fly until mating has occurred so eggs obtained from captured females are almost always fertile. |
EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:First instar Citheronia lobesis larvae are dark brown to black with a red saddle.Thoracic scoli are pronounced and must occupy a substantial portion of the egg. Larvae often assume a j-shape when at rest. First instar on sweetgum, courtesy of Alan Marson. |
Female lobesis moths deposit large, slightly-flattened, transparent yellow ova on host foliage. Incubation is for approximately 8-9 days. Larvae develop rapidly and have large thoracic scoli typical of Ceratocampinae |
Larval growth is quite rapid in the final instar and larvae thicken considerably as well as elongate. |
Larvae descend the hostplant at pupation time and dig a subterranean chamber in which to pupate.Pupae are large and rough with an extensive cremaster. |
Citheronia lobesis lobesis Venezuela, by Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel.
Citheronia lobesis by Claude Lemaire (on my home computer only).
Bursera simaruba | Gumbo limbo |
Return to Citheronia Genus from South America
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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.
I do not know the meaning of "lobesis" or the reason
for its choice as a species name.