DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia prionia (wingspan: males: 99-102mm; female: ??) flies in southcentral Brazil: Alagoas: Arapiraca; Bahia; Piaui: Uniao, north of Teresina; Ceara: Tiangua (SB) and Potengi (CT); Rio Grande do Norte (FO); and Minas Gerais. Francierlem Oliveira reports a late June flight as well as a mid May flight in Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

This species greatly resembles R. cincta geurreronis, but differs in that the hindwing hyaline spot tends to be more elongate and subrhomboidal and the antemedial band is less produced in R. prionia.

Rothschildia prionia male, Encrucillada, Bahia, Brazil,
101.9mm, 850m, December 2011, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Rothschildia prionia male, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
May 13, 2018, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Kelly Price reports specimens taken in early December, 2011, in Encrucillada, Bahia, Brazil, at elevation of 850m. Sylvia Barroso reports a July flight in Tiangua, Ceara, Claudio Timm reports and early May flight in Potengi, Ceara, and Gilberto Vieira reports a January flight in Piaui. Thus there are probably at least two or more annual broods in northeastern Brazil. Renato Almeida reports a May 21 flight in Alagoas.

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

Rothschildia prionia male, Brazil, Seitz.

Rothschildia prionia male, Tiangua, Ceara, Brazil,
February 27, 2017, courtesy of Sylvia Barroso, id by Bill Oehlke.

Rothschildia prionia male, Tiangua, Ceara, Brazil,
March 11, 2018, courtesy of Sylvia Barroso, id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Rothschildia prionia female, courtesy of Ron Brechlin.

Rothschildia prionia male, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
May 13, 2018, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

The female appears to have a much more rounded hindwing outer margin, and a much les produced forewing outer margin.

Rothschildia prionia male, Teresina, Piaui, Brazil,
January 4, 2017, courtesy of Gilberto Vieira, id by Bill Oehlke.

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Rothschildia prionia male, Potengi, Ceara, Brazil,
May 2, 2019, courtesy of Claudio Timm, id by Bill Oehlke.

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 prionia cocoon, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira.

Rothschildia prionia male, Tiangua, Ceara, Brazil,
July 19, 2016, courtesy of Sylvia Barroso, id by Bill Oehlke.

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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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, prionia, comes from Greek mythology where Prionia is one of the three springs that feed the Enipeas River.

Visit Rothschildia prionia additional images.