DISTRIBUTION:

Arsenura polyodonta (wingspan: males: 87-97mm; females: 103-110mm) flies in dry areas of
central and western Mexico: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Colima, Morelos, Oaxaca, and probably Michoacan and Guerrero (KP).

Visit Arsenura polyodonta San Antonio, Tlayacapan, Jalisco, Mexico, June 7, 2004, courtesy of Dan Hillsman.

Arsenura polyodonta male, 87mm, El Mogote, Guerrero, Mexico,
courtesy of Kelly Price.

Kelly mentioned the small size of the male from El Mogote as compared to his image of the much larger female, depicted below. I think El Mogote maybe a higher elevation area where temps are usually a bit cooler than at lower elevations. Often, in cooler temperatures/climate, specimens do not obtain the size they might in a warmer zone. Males also tend to be considerably smaller than females.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS: This species probably flies in May and June as a single brood. Hubert Mayer reports a July flight in Oaxaca, Mexico. Arsenura polyodonta larvae feed on Chorisia insignis and Chorisis speciosa. ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: Arsenurini males use their antennae to seek out females which scent at night. EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE: Larvae descend tree trunks at maturity to pupate in subterranean chambers. Arsenura polyodonta larva, copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe.

Arsenura polyodonta male, Colima, Mexico,
courtesy of Carlos G. C. Mielke. copyright

Arsenura polyodonta female, Colima, Mexico,
courtesy of Carlos G. C. Mielke. copyright

Arsenura polyodonta female, Mexico,
wingspan: 122mm (unusually large), courtesy of Kelly Price.

Arsenura polyodonta female, San Pedro, Road to Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico,
July 20, 2004, 900m, courtesy/copyright of Hubert Mayer.

Arsenura polyodonta fourth instar, courtesy of Viktor Suter, via Bernhard Wenczel.

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.

Chorisia insignis Chorisis speciosa.......

Floss silk-tree Floss silk-tree

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 contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name "Arsenura" chosen by Duncan in 1841.

In Greek, "poly" means 'many' and "odonta" means 'tooth' so the species name polyodonta was probably chosen for the many sharp, dark projections/teeth into the submarginal areas of all wings.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Arsenura Genus

Return to Main Index