Coloradia oaxacensis
Coloradia oaxacensis
kahl-er-AGH-dee-uhMoh-ah-ha-KENS-ihs
Brechlin & Meister 2010
Coloradia oaxacensis male, Oaxaca, Mexico, 1993,
courtesy/copyright of Esperanza Insects.
Coloradia oaxacensis HT male, near Teotitlan, Oaxaca, Mexico,
70mm, August 16, 2010, 2350m, 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 oaxacensis (wingspan: males: 70mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 34-35mm; females: probably larger)
flies in the coniferous pine forests of
Mexico: Oaxaca.
Mexico: Oaxaca: 13 km north of Teotitlan, `El Horno`, collected by B. Wenczel, 2010-08-16.
This species is quite similar to Coloradia casanovai.
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 oaxacensis probably flies from March to August, although so far only an August flight has been confirmed.
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.
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 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 oaxacensis is probalby indicative of specimen type location in Oaxaca, Mexico.
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