DISTRIBUTION:

Citheronia chrisbrechlinae (wingspan: males: 110mm; females: larger // forewing length: males: 56mm; females: larger) flies in
Guatemala: Alta Verapaz: Coban: Chamelco, at elevations near 1450m in pine forests.

Citheronia chrisbrechlinae male (verso), 110mm, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala,
July 9, 2002, 1450m, on my home computer only.

Citheronia chrisbrechlinae is very similar to both of the following moths from south western Guatemala. I had determined them as C. azteca, but one or both of them might be C. chrisbrechlinae, although a mountain range separates their location from the more northestern location of C. chrisbrechlinae.

Citheronia azteca, San Marcos, Guatemala, courtesy of Jose Monzon Sierra.

Jose Monzon sends this image from Suchitepequez, Reserva Refugio del Quetzal, Guatemala, taken in April. Because of the almost pure white, I regard it as C. a. albescens.

Citheronia azteca male, Suchitepequez, Reserva Refugio del Quetzal, Guatemala,
April 2008, courtesy of Jose Monzon.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Citheronia chrisbrechlinae fly in July and probably in other months, and larvae probably will feed on Rhus.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Citheronia chrisbrechlinae larvae are well-armed with thoracic scoli.

Pupation is underground in a small cell.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are anticipated food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Rhus laurina Rhus typhina Schinus terebinthifolius.....

Laurel sumac Staghorn sumac Brazil peppertree

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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 "chrisbrechlinae" is honourific for Dr. Christiane Brechlin, mother of Ron Brechlin.

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