DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia lebeau amacurensis flies in the eastern most range of the Oronoco delta in Venezuela: Territorio Delta Amacuro.

Rothschildia lebeau lebeau belongs to a group of four species: lebeau, cincta, prionia, paucidentata. All four species lack white scales on the outer margin of the hindwings. In lebeau the postmedian line is straight and only slightly dentate and irregularly waved in the area between the costa and the outer angle of the hyaline spot.

Amacurensis is larger than nominate lebeau and has more rounded hyaline spots. The female also has a noticeably wider post median line.

The Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter images on this page were originally sent to me as Rothschildia arethusa rhodina, but the larva image is definitely not arethusa rhodina, the eyespots near the forewing apex are typically lebeau and the postmedial line does not have the inwardly concave arcs of arethusa. The elongate hindwing of the male and the interruption of the post median lines by the hyaline spots, as well as the range, leads me to think this moth is Rothschildia lebeau amacurensis.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species probably broods continuously with flights thus far recorded in June and November.

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

Rothschildia lebeau amacurensis female, Venezuela,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Like most of the Rothschildia, except for the diurnal zacateca, this species calls and pairs at night.

Rothschildia vanschacyki female, Macareo, Orinoco, Venezuela,
November 23, 2007, courtesy of Jonathan Vera-Caripe, id by Bill Oehlke
Also a very good match for R. lebeau amacurensis

Perhaps Rothschildia vanschaycki is limited to Trinidad and Tobago, and the very similar Rothschildia lebeau amacurensis is limited to the Orinoco Delta. DNA barcoding may be necessary to distinguish between them.

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 lebeau amacurensis larva, Venezuela,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

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

Return to Main Saturniidae Index

Return to Rothschildia Index

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, lebeau, is honourific for Lebeau, and the subspecies name amacurensis indicates the holotype specimen source from Territorio Delta Amacuro.