Citheronia lobesis lobesis
sih-ther-OH-nee-uhmmloh-BEESS-ihs
W. Rothschild, 1907

Citheronia lobesis lobesis (male) courtesy of Bernhard Jost.

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: Ceratocampinae, Harris, 1841 was Citheroniinae: Neumoegen & Dyar, 1894 Genus: Citheronia, Hübner, 1819 Species: lobesis, W. Rothschild

MIDI MUSIC "WhatAWonderfulWorld" copyright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="world.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Citheronia lobesis lobesis (wingspan: males: 77-100mm; females: 97-112mm) flies in
Nicaragua: Boaco, Managua, Masaya;
El Salvador: San Salvador;
Costa Rica: Guanacaste and Puntarenas (CL), Alajuela and Heredia (IB); and
Panama: Canal Zone; to
Venezuela: Distrito Federal, Miranda, Monagas, Aragua, Guarico, Apure and Tachira; and
Colombia: Huila; and
possibly in Ecuador and
Trinidad. It is known mostly from dry forests.

The forewing is a dull greyish colour with reduced yellow spots except at the apex.

Citheronia lobesis lobesis female, by Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in March and in May-June, suggesting two broods.

Citheronia lobesis larvae feed on Bursera simaruba, Calycophyllum candidissimum, Cochlospermum vitifolium, Phoradendron quadrangulare, Psidium guajava and Spondias mombin.

Citheronia lobesis lobesis female, by Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel.

Citheronia lobesis lobesis female, by Claude Lemaire (on my home computer only).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use their more highly developed antennae (quadripectinate for basal two-thirds) to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky. The males fly in a zigzag pattern into the wind to pickup the scent plume. Note the filiaform antennae on this newly emerged lobesis female. She must now pump fluid into her stubby wings in a process that will take apporxiately 20-30 minutes. All newly emerged lepidoptera need to climb, hang and inflate otherwise soft stubby wings in preparation for flight. Females usually do not fly until mating has occurred so eggs obtained from captured females are almost always fertile.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE: First instar Citheronia lobesis larvae are dark brown to black with a red saddle. Thoracic scoli are pronounced and must occupy a substantial portion of the egg. Larvae often assume a j-shape when at rest. First instar on sweetgum, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Female lobesis moths deposit large, slightly-flattened, transparent yellow ova on host foliage. Incubation is for approximately 8-9 days. Larvae develop rapidly and have large thoracic scoli typical of Ceratocampinae

Larval growth is quite rapid in the final instar and larvae thicken considerably as well as elongate.

Larvae descend the hostplant at pupation time and dig a subterranean chamber in which to pupate. Pupae are large and rough with an extensive cremaster.

Citheronia lobesis lobesis Venezuela, by Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel.

Citheronia lobesis by Claude Lemaire (on my home computer only).

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae and/or from personal communication (Alan Marson). 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.

Bursera simaruba Calycophyllum candidissimum Cochlospermum vitifolium Liquidambar styraciflua Phoradendron quadrangulare..... Psidium guajava Spondias mombin

Gumbo limbo Degame Rosa amarillo/Yellow rose Sweetgum (AM) Mistletoe Common guava Yellow mombin

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.

I do not know the meaning of "lobesis" or the reason for its choice as a species name.