DISTRIBUTION:

Citheronia aroa (wingspan: males: 72-103mm; females: 111-119mm) flies in
Venezuela: Yaracuy, Miranda and Monagas;
French Guiana: Saul;
Colombia: Caqueta;
Ecuador: Pichincha (HK), Napo and Morona-Santiago and probably Pastaza;
Peru: Amazonas (LTR), Junin, Huanucu and Puno and probably San Martin, Cusco, Pasco and Madre de Dios;
Bolivia: La Paz, (Cochabamba, KP?WO?); and
Brazil: Mato Grosso, Para, Parana (CM), Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul (RSL); and
I suspect in Guyana and
Surinam.

Citheronia aroa ?? male, 80mm, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil,
Cornell University Collection, courtesy of Ryan Saint Laurent.

Citheronia aroa male, Las Minas, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
October 30, 2002, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Citheronia aroa male (verso), Las Minas, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
October 30, 2002, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Luigi Racheli indicates he thinks the specimens from Misahualli (450m) are actually C. aroa. Luigi writes, "C. andina is only from moderate elevation (In Ecuador: Loreto Road, Cord Huacamayos and other sites). Usually C. andina is not below 1000 m of altitude."

I am in agreement with Luigi and note that C. aroa has the very acute angle at the forewing apex, typical of the specimens from Misahualli. I will notify Horst.

I now think that the specimen below from Cocahbamba may be C. andina because the forewing apex angle is not so acute. Arani has an elevation of around 2761 m.

Citheronia aroa/andina, Arani, Cochabamba, Bolivia,
courtesy of Kelly Price, tentative** id by Bill Oehlke (most likely andina).

Note the heavy "purple" colouration of thorax and dorsal surface of the abdomen.

Citheronia aroa?? male, Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 28, 2003, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Citheronia aroa?? male verso, Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 28, 2003, courtesy of Horst Kach.

I (Bill Oehlke) think (not sure) that true aroa males have a very straight hindwing outer margin. The Bernhard Wenczel, Kelly Price and Horst Kach (Pichincha) specimens have more rounded outer margins than I would expect for aroa. Those specimens may belong to a different species, or even more than one different species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in December.

Citheronia aroa larvae feed on Prunus spinosa and Malosma laurina. They are also reported on Prunus serotina, and Alan Marson has reared them on Liquidambar styraciflua. Visit Citheronia aroa female and male pupa.

Citheronia aroa, French Guiana

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

The slightly smaller, more brigthly coloured aroa males use their more highly developed antennae to locate calling females at night.

Citheronia aroa female, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Males of this subfamily and genus have antennae which are quadripectinate for the basal two-thirds of their length.

Citheronia aroa courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Ryan Saint Laurent sends the following comparison plate from specimens from the Cornell University Collection. Both specimens are reported from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, without more precise data. Ryan indicates the specimens were originally identified as C. brissottii brissottii, but he feels the smaller one (wingspan 80mm) is more likely aroa, while the larger one (wingspan 115mm) is a mystery.

When I looked at the plate, I agreed that the smaller moth is probably aroa, but I suggested the larger one could be C. hamifera or C. brissottii brissottii, none of which have been previously reported from Rio Grande do Sul. The larger moth significantly exceeds the maximum wingspan reported for any of the three species.

Citheronia aroa male, 80mm and Citheronia unknown male, 115mm,
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Cornell University Collection,
courtesy of Ryan Saint Laurent.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE: Citheronia aroa larvae, in the earlier instars, are well-armed with thoracic and abdominal scoli which seem to be more numerous yet thinner than those of other Citheronia species. In later instars, the abdominal scoli are greatly reduced. Pupation is underground in a small cell.

Fourth instar courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel

Final instar courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel

Final instar courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter, Pozuzo, central Peru

Visit Citheronia aroa eggs and all instars, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Visit Citheronia aroa fourth and fifth instars, pupa and female (recto and verso), Venezuela, courtesy of Jean-Yves Malmasson.

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.

Liquidambar styraciflua ....... Malosma laurina Prunus serotina Prunus spinosa

Sweetgum (AM) Laurel sumac Wild/Black Cherry Schlehe

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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 source of the genus name "Citheronia" is probably Mount Citheron (Greek mythology), an untamed wilderness, exempt from the laws of civilization. The goddesses go naked there and are free from any of the pressures of society.

The species name "aroa" probably comes from a specimen type locality in Aroa, Venezuela.