Females fly as soon as copulation is over and lay clusters of 6-12 large eggs at the bases of pine needles. Eggs are green at first but turn bluish grey with a dark micropyle at maturity. Incubation can last up to three weeks.

Coloradia doris first instar, Arizona, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Coloradia doris second instar (ready to molt), Arizona, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Coloradia doris third instar, Arizona, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Coloradia doris fourth instar, Arizona, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Coloradia doris fifth instar, Arizona, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Coloradia doris Flagstaff Airport, Coconino County, Arizona,
May 18, 1985, courtesy of Jim Tuttle.

Larvae are highly gregarious at first with several caterpillars often feeding on a single pine needle. Larvae become more solitary as they mature and descend tree trunks in August and September to spin loose cocoons just under the surface litter.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. 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.

Pinus ponderosa..... Pinus contorta Pinus monophylla

Ponderosa pine Lodgepole pine Pinyon pine

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Return to Coloradia 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.

Coloradia, the genus name, was possibly chosen for the state of Colorado where Coloradia pandora, the genus specimen type, is widespread.

The species name doris is probably from mythology where Nereus and Doris (a sea nymph) were the parents of the Nereids (sea nymphs).