DISTRIBUTION:

Citheronia phoronea (wingspan: males: 76-110mm; females: 110-132mm) flies in
Suriname;
Panama: Canal Zone; Colon: Barro Colorado (KB)
Colombia: Valle, Caqueta (LRRV) and probably Amazonas and Putamayo;
Venezuela: Distrito Federal, Miranda, Sucre, Monagas, Bolivar, Amazonas and Tachira;
French Guiana: Belizon;
Ecuador: Napo, Pichincha, Sucumbios and Orellana, and probably Carchi and Imbabura;
<Peru: Amazonas (LTR), Huanucu and Madre de Dios and probably San Martin, Pasco, Junin and Ucayali; and
Brazil: Mato Grosso; Mato Grosso do Sul: Costa Rica (TM); Goias; Minas Gerais; Espirito Santo; Rio de Janeiro; Parana (CM); Sao Paulo: Tapirai (EB) and Mogi das Cruzes (PRVC); Santa Catarina; and
probably Guyana.

Note purplish ground colour characteristic of this species.

Ulf Drechsel confirms phoronea in Amanbay, Paraguay.

Citheronia phoronea male, Amanbay, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

Citheronia phoronea male, Amanbay, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

Based on the larval images that I have received, I suspect that more than one species is being covered under C. phoronea. I suspect there is one species in Central America into western Colombia; another Andean species in eastern Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia; another Guayana-Amazonian species in the Amazon region; and possibly a fourth species in south eastern Brazil.

It will be interesting to see if DNA barcoding shows regional differences. Bill Oehlke, February 26, 2016.

Citheronia phoronea male, Tapirai, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
November 13, 2014, courtesy of Enio Branco.

Citheronia phoronea male (cell markings), Tapirai, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
November 13, 2014, courtesy of Enio Branco.

Citheronia phoronea complex, Costa Rica, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil,
October, 2016, courtesy of Toni Medina.

Ulf Drechsel has recently (2014) confirmed a presence in northeastern Paraguay: Amambay: Estancia Laguna Ciervo. Ulf writes that on January 24, 2014, "A male specimen was found sitting on a fence post of a cattle pasture bordered by Cerrado vegetation. A second male was attracted by a light source on a nearby shack."

Citheronia phoronea male, Estancia Laguna Ciervo, Amambay, Paraguay,
January 24, 2014, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel

Citheronia phoronea male, January 22, 2004
Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach

Citheronia phoronea male verso, January 22, 2004
Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are at least two Citheronia phoronea broods annually with moths on the wing in January-February and then again in May-June-July. Enio Branco reports a November flight in Sao Paulo, Brazil as does Priscila R. Vieira Cruz. Kelsey J. R. P. Byers reports a very late July flight in Barro Colorado, Colon, Panama.

Larvae feed on Bixa orellana and Urucu and Prunus spinosa.

Citheronia phoronea female, Napo, Ecuador,
January 22, 2003, courtesy of Horst Kach

Citheronia phoronea female verso, Napo, Ecuador,
January 22, 2003, courtesy of Horst Kach

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Moths eclose from subterranean pupae.

Females call in the males with an airbourne pheromone and most activity occurs in the early morning hours from 1:00 to 3:00 am.

Citheronia phoronea courtesy of Entomo Service

Citheronia phoronea male, copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE: Eggs are translucent and yellow in colour. The developing larvae can be seen through the egg shell prior to hatching. In the earlier instars, larvae are very heavily armed with thick "horns' on the thorax and abdominal segments. As the larvae develop the scoli become more "hairlike", and appear muchless menacing. Pupation is underground in a small cell.

Citheronia phoronea final instar, Sao Miguel Arcanjo, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
January 13, 2012, , courtesy of Enio Branco.

Citheronia phoronea final instar, Sao Miguel Arcanjo, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
January 13, 2012, courtesy of Enio Branco.

Citheronia phoronea larva,copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe.

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. Bixa orellana..... Prunus serotina Prunus spinosa Urucu Annatto Wild/Black Cherry Schlehe Urucu Citheronia phoronea larva,copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe. Return to Citheronia Index Return to Main Saturniidae Index

Citheronia phoronea fifth instar, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach

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 "phoronea" is for a place in Greek mythology: Phoroneus was King of Phoronea.

Visit Citheronia phoronea males, Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brazil, November 29, 2017, courtesy of Priscila R. Vieira Cruz.

Visit additional Citheronia phoronea additional images and data.