DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia speculifer rubra (wingspan: males: 122mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 71-77mm; females: mm) flies in
northeastern Brazil: Bahia; Maranhao; at elevations of 480-750m.

The image from Cariacica, Espirito Santo, seems a good match for Rothschildia speculifer rubra, but it could also be R. speculifer speculifer. The larva images from Rio Grande do Norte could also be Rothschildia speculifer rubra.

This subspecies seems to be slightly smaller on average compared to the browner nominate subspecies, Rothschildia speculifer speculifer (Mfwl: 80-81mm), which flies from Bahia and Maranhao, Brazil, to Misiones, Argentina.

Rothschildia speculifer rubra male, PT, Maranhao, Brazil,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January-February. There are probably additional flight months. Taiella Santos confirms and early April flight in Belmonte, Bahia.

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

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 speculifer rubra final instar, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
June 24, 2016, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Rothschildia speculifer rubra spinning cocoon, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
June 24, 2016, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Rothschildia speculifer rubra cocoon, Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,
June 24, 2016, courtesy of Francierlem Oliveira, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Larval Food Plants

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.

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. 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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a male contempory/friend/collector/etc.

The genus name "Rothschildia" probably was chosen to honour W. Rothschild.

The species name "speculifer rubra" indicates a great similarity to R. speculifer. The subspecies name "rubra" indicates a strong reddish tint to ground colour.