DISTRIBUTION:

Citheronia beledonon (wingspan: males: 76-96mm; females: 106-112mm) flies in
Mexico: Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Morelos, State of Mexico.

Citheronia beledonon male, Mexico, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in May and July. Possibly there are two broods. Citheronia beledonon larvae feed on Rhus, Gossypium, Liquidambar, Malosma, Schinus and Ligustrum. Jurgen Vanhoudt reports great success on Juglans.

Citheronia beledonon male, Guerrero, Mexico, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

The slightly smaller, more brigthly coloured males use their more highly developed antennae to locate calling females at night. Males of this subfamily have antennae which are quadripectinate for the basal two-thirds of their length.

Citheronia beledonon female, Mexico,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Citheronia beledonon larvae are extremely colourful and armed with "horns" not as pronounced as some other members of this genus. Pupation is underground in a small cell.

Citheronia beledonon fifth instar larva, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Citheronia beledonon fifth instar, Mexico,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

Return to Citheronia Index

Return to Main 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.

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 "beledonon" is probably a combination of the Spanish 'bele' for beautiful and 'donon' the verb for going to do something (to become beautiful??).

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