DISTRIBUTION:

Anisota oslari (wingspan: males: 43-54mm; females:54-73mm) flies in southeastern Arizona, New Mexico, southwestern Colorado and western Texas and down into Mexico: Sonora, and Matthew Barnes reports them in Belize.

The male's forewings are quite triangular, and the hindwings are dark.

Anisota oslari male, Pena Blanca, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, 8 Aug-2005,
courtesy/copyright of Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

Anisota oslari female, Blanca Canyon, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, JBW 6 Aug-2004,
courtesy/copyright of Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Anisota oslari adults fly in June-July and August during the rainy season. They have been taken as late as October 16, in Guadalupe Canyon, Arizona.

Oslari larvae feed upon oaks in the canyons and hillsides within their mountainous range.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call during sunny spells from 8:30-11:30 am, and the pair usually remain coupled until early evening when the females begin their ovipositing flights.

Anisota oslari female, Arizona, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larvae are gregarious but divide into smaller clusters as they progress. They leave the tougher midvein of the foliage intact. In the final instar they are solitary feeders and leave the host to pupate in shallow chambers. Photo by Leroy Simon. Pupation is under the soil.

Larvae do well in sleeves or on cut food. Pupae should be stored above freezing temperatures.

Anisota oslari, Arizona, courtesy of David Bygott.

Anisota oslari, fourth instar, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Anisota oslari, fifth instar, Arizona, courtesy of 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.

Acer negundo Acer rubrum Acer saccharinum Quercus arizonica Quercus emoryi Quercus gambelli Quercus kelloggii Quercus oblongifolia..... Quercus palustris Quercus rubra Quercus turbinella Quercus velutina Quercus virginiana Schinus terebinthifolius...........

Box elder Red maple Silver maple Arizona oak Emory oak Gambel oak California black oak Mexican blue oak Pin oak Northern red oak Shrub live oak Black oak Live oak Brazil peppertree

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.

The species name "oslari" is honourific. Ernest John Oslar (male) was a contemporary commercial collector who provided many specimens collected in the western U.S. late 1800's to early 1900's. Oslar was also very interested in birds and probably collected them as well.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Anisota".

Return to Main Index

Return to Anisota Index