DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia orizaba peruviana flies in medium altitude andean forests (1000 - 1700 m) from
eastern Ecuador: Sucumbios (LTR), Napo (CL), Tungurahua (CL), Pastaza (CL), Morona Santiago (CL) and maybe Cotopaxi (WO?), and
eastern Peru: Huanuco, Puno, probably Pasco, Junin, Cusco; to
Bolivia: Cochabamba, probably La Paz; on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Peru is the specimen type locality.

The narrow hyaline spots touch the evenly dentate postmedial lines.

Rothschildia orizaba peruviana male, courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

Rothschildia orizaba peruviana male, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck, digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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 orizaba peruviana second instar, Ecuador, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Rothschildia orizaba peruviana third instar, Ecuador, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Rothschildia orizaba peruviana fifth instar, Ecuador, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Rothschildia orizaba peruviana cocoon, Ecuador, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

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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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, orizaba, is the name of a large city in the Mexican state of Veracruz.

The subspecies name, peruviana, indicates the source of the lectotype from southeastern Peru.