Coloradia guerreroiana
Coloradia guerreroiana
kahl-er-AGH-dee-uhMghe-RRRREH-roh-ee-an-uh
Brechlin & Meister 2010
Coloradia guerreroiana HT male, 69mm, Cruz de Ocote, Guerrero, Mexico,
June, 2009, 450m, on my home computer only.
This site has been created by
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.
TAXONOMY:
Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, [1837] 1834
Genus: Coloradia, Blake, 1863
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DISTRIBUTION:
Coloradia guerreroiana
(approximate wingspan: males: 69mm; females: 81mm // forewing length: males: 32-35mm; females: 39mm) flies in the coniferous pine forests of
Mexico: Guerrero: Cruz de Ocote; Filo de Caballos; at elevations of 450-2100m.
A very similar, slightly smaller moth, Coloradia paraguerroiana has been found in the same general location at higher elevation (2250m), on the wing in May.
Please note: The advent of DNA barcoding has resulted in many new descriptions. In many cases the "new" species
are quite similar to existing species. Do not be surprised if even more refined testing or revisions of thresholds of difference in the future results in some
synonymies or even more species/subspecies. Subsequent rearing may or may not indicate differences in larval appearance.
It will be interesting to see how this all pans out.
FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:
Coloradia guerreroiana flies June, and probably in other months.
Pinus oocarpa, P. pseudostrobus, P. montezumae and Pinus teocote are probably the preferred natural host plants. Other pine species will probably be
accepted.
ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:
Eclosions probably take place from noon until 4:00 pm.
It is expected (unknown) that females scent just after dusk and pairs stay coupled for just about an hour. Females then begin their ovipositing flights.
Coloradia guerreroiana AT female, 81mm, Filo de Caballos, Guerrero, Mexico,
June, 2009, 2100m, on my home computer only.
EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:
Females probably fly as soon as copulation is over and lay clusters of 6-12 large eggs at the bases of
pine needles. Eggs are probably green at first but turn bluish grey with a dark micropyle at maturity. Incubation can last up to three weeks.
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 the fall to spin loose cocoons just under the surface litter.
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.
Return to Main Index
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 guerreroiana is indicative of specimen type location in Guerrero, Mexico.
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