COLORADIA OF THE WORLD

Found in the western United States and Mexico, members of this genus fly primarily at night in montane coniferous forests. Coloradia prchali males are diurnal, i.e., fly during the day. Coloradia pandora pandora is one of the few Saturniidae species regarded as a major insect pest, with larvae sometimes doing considerable damage to pine stands.

Coloradia adults are generally medium sized 60-96mm moths with forewings offering good camouflage against pine bark. Larvae bear urticating spines and reach lengths of 60-80 mm. Native Americans regularly eat the larvae and regard them as a great delicacy. Pupation is in a loose cocoon just below the surface debris.

Coloradia velda larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

When adult moths are disturbed, they curl and pulsate the black and yellow ringed abdomen in a wasp-like fashion.

At rest, moths fold wings over their backs in a tent like fashion, tuck their antennae (males-quadripectinate, females-bipectinate) under the forewings, and seek out resting places where forewings tucked against bark offer them maximum camouflage protection.

Eggs, green at time of deposition, are deposited on pine bark or at base of needles. The micropyle turns black if eggs are fertile and eggs turn a bluish-grey colour with age. Young larve feed gregariously, often at the tip of a single pine needle.

P indicates a photograph is available. The first country listed is the type locality.

Click on hypertext to access files. Range may exceed that listed.

Please note: The advent of DNA barcoding has resulted in many new descriptions. In many cases the "new" species are quite similar to existing species. Do not be surprised if even more refined testing or revisions of thresholds of difference in the future results in some synonymies or even more species/subspecies. Subsequent rearing may or may not indicate differences in larval appearance. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Listings on this page now (January 11, 2012) reflect the new names put forward, mostly by Brechlin and Meister, from 2010-2011 for the Lonomia genus. I have recently paid for Entomo Satsphingia journals (2010-2011) and await their arrival. I will not be posting images from the journals, but will use the pictures contained therein to write and post my own descriptions of the newly named species, many of which I feel are already depicted on WLSS under previously existing names. DNA barcoding results in some cases confirm obvious differences, and in other cases provide a threshhold of difference between specimens that may only be accurately determined through DNA analysis.

There will be some relocation of images and further refinements of geographical checklists as I am able to process information. Geography and wingspan may be very important in making determinations. Many thanks to all those who have provided images and data and continue to do so. Many thanks also to those who have sent financial contributions to me for the development and maintenance of the WLSS.

Listing of Coloradia

N hectori Brechlin & Meister 2014 Mexico: Sinaloa
N peggyae Brechlin & Meister 2014 Mexico: Mexico
N ocambensis Brechlin & Meister 2014 Mexico: Chihuahua
P casanovai Beutelspacher, 1993 Mexico: Chiapas
P doris Barnes, 1900 Colorado, Rocky Mountain states, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico; Mexico: Baja California Norte
duffneri, Barnes & Benjamin, 1926, Arizona, is a synonym for doris
lois, Dyar, 1911, Montana, is a synonym for doris
P euphrosyne Dyar, 1912 Mexico: Colima; Michoacan; Morelos; Oaxaca; Hidalgo; Distrito Federal
N guerreroiana Brechlin & Meister 2010 Mexico: Guerrero
P hoffmanni Beutelspacher, 1978 Mexico: Durango
P jaliscensis Brechlin & Meister 2010 Mexico: Jalisco
P luski Barnes & Benjamin, 1926 White Mountains, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico; Mexico: Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango
P oaxacensis Brechlin & Meister 2010 Mexico: Oaxaca
P pandora davisi Barnes & Benjamin, 1926 Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas; Mexico: Sinaloa, Durango, Chihuahua
bonniwelli, Barnes & Benjamin, 1926, New Mexico, is a synonym for davisi
chiricahua, Barnes & Benjamin, 1926, Arizona, is a synonym for davisi
P pandora lindseyi Barnes & Benjamin, 1926 California, Colorado, Arizona; Mexico: Baja California Norte
P pandora pandora Blake, 1863, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico; Mexico: Baja California Norte, California, Nevada, Oregon, southern Washington
N paraguerreroiana Brechlin & Meister 2010 Mexico: Guerrero
P prchali Lemaire & M. J. Smith, 1992 Mexico: Sonora; Chihuahua
N smithi Lemaire, new species Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico: Sinaloa; Durango
P vazquezae Beutelspacher, 1978 Mexico: Nuevo Leon
P velda J. W. Johnson & Walker, 1981 California

Below are Coloradia species larvae from Mexico:

Coloradia smithi/davisi?? final instar, Sinaloa, Mexico,
courtesy of Viktor Suter.

Coloradia smithi/davisi?? final instar, Sinaloa, Mexico,
courtesy of Viktor Suter.

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