DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia hesperus betis (wingspan 170mm) flies in southeastern Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Parana, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo: Bacaetava (EB); Porto Ferreira (PAN); Campinas (CA & GSBC).

The specimen listed by Vladimir Izersky from Peru also looks like Rothschildia hesperus betis, showing the forewing hyaline spot connecting the antemedial and postmedial lines.

Ezequiel Osvaldo Núñez Bustos sent me a paper in August 2015 which includes Rothschildia hesperus betis in northeastern Argentina: Misiones.

Rothschildia hesperus betis, pair, Peru, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Rothschildia hesperus betis, female, Sao Jose dos Campos, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
April 2, 2017, courtesy of Rodrigo Dela Rosa, id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species will probably accept Ligustrum (privet), lilac, ailanthus and oak.

Enio Branco reports February and October flights in Bacaetava and Tapirai, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Christine Ahlgrimm and Gustavo Silveira Bueno Carvalho report a March flight in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

I am not at all sure of the identification of the following moth from Rio de Janeiro. It might be betis, lutea or something undescribed or that I have missed. It is surprising almost completely devoid of pinkish suffusions in the pm areas of all wings. By location, betis, seems the best match.

Rothschildia hesperus/betis/lutea female, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
April 3, 2016, courtesy of Rafael Neves. I favour betis, but am not sure.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: Like most of the Rothschildia, except for the diurnal zacateca, this species calls and pairs at night. Females come to lights between 11:00 pm and 1:00 am; males are on the wing from 11:30 pm until 3:00 am.

Rothschildia hesperus betis female, Bacaetava, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
February 24, 2012, courtesy of Enio Branco

Rothschildia hesperus betis female, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
March 25, 2016, courtesy of Christine Ahlgrimm.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

It is interesting to watch Rothschildia fashion their cocoons. A strong peduncle with a few support silk strands secures the structure while the larva continues "padding its nest" with a continuous back-and-forth movement of the head.

There are both inner and outer cocoons, each with a relatively long valve to facilitate eclosions.

Rothschildia hesperus betis, final instar, Santa Cruz da Esperanca, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
March 17, 2018, courtesy of Marcos Cesar Campis.

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.

Ailanthus altissima..... Ligustrum Quercus Syringa vulgaris

Ailanthus Privet Oak Common lilac

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Visit additional images of Rothschilida hesperus betis from Brazil.

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

"Rothschildia" is chosen to honour one of the Rothschilds, possibly William.

The species name, hesperus, is the name for the planet Venus as the evening star.

I do not know the etymology for the subspecies choice of betis.