DISTRIBUTION:

Othorene verana sonorensis (wingspan: males: 84mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 44mm; females: 58mm) flies in
Mexico: Sonora; Sinaloa; at elevations of 430-1670m.

In 2011, Brechlin & Meister named, described and depicted three new subspecies/species in the Verana Group, listed below from north to south with regard to specimen type location:

Verana Group:

othorene verana sonorensis mfwl: 44mm, Mexico: Sonora; Sinaloa
othorene verana potosiana mfwl: 38mm, Mexico: Sonora; Sinaloa
Othorene verana verana mfwl=33-39mm, Mexico: San Luis Potosi; orangey ground colour; pm line bends down toward i.m.
Othorene verana veroaxensis mfwl=42-47mm, Mexico: Oaxaca; possibly a synonym of O. verana verana
Othorene verana verapaziana mfwl=37-44mm, Guatemala: Alta Verapaz; Baja Verapaz; Solola; Izabal; dark brown ground colour; pm line bends down toward i.m.
Othorene bernardoespinozai mfwl=34-38mm, Costa Rica: Guanacaste; Nicaragua: Jinotega; orangey ground colour; undulating fw outer margin

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Othorene verana sonorensis have have been taken in June-July. There are probably additional flight months.

Larvae probably feed upon Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) and other oak species (Quercus oleoides).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking the airbourne pheromone plume.

Both sexes probably come in to lights with peak activity likely from 10:30 pm until 1:30 am.

Othorene verana sonorensis female, Mexico, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

The following descriptions are for the nominate subspecies, but I suspect "verana sonorensis" larvae would be quite similar.

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Quercus gambelii Quercus oleoides...... Quercus robur (TD)

Gambel oak Oak species English oak

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Othorene Genus

Return to South American Saturniidae Directory

Return to Main WLSS Index

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 origin of the genus name Othorene.

Nor do I know the reason for the species name "verana". The subspecies name sonorensis is indicative of a specimen type location in Sonora, Mexico, and a similarity to Othorene verana verana.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.