Coloradia ocambensis
Updated as per Entomo-Satsphingia Jahrgang 7 Heft 3 30.09.14; March 2, 2015

Coloradia ocambensis
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Brechlin & Meister 2014

Coloradia species, Bernhard Wenczel.

Coloradia ocambensis HT male, Municipio de Ocambo, Chihuahua, Mexico, and possibly in Sinaloa,
62mm, August 22, 1998, 2300m, on my home computer only.

Coloradia ocambensis??, Mexico, Bernhard Wenczel.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
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 ocambensis (wingspan: males: 62mm; females: 81mm // forewing length: males: 31mm; females: 41mm) flies in Mexico: Chihuahua: Municipio de Ocambo, and possbily in Sinaloa, at elevations near 1480-1960m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Coloradia ocambensis flies in August at moderate elevations near 2300m.

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 ocambensis AT female, Municipio de Ocambo, Chihuahua, Mexico,
81mm, August 22, 1998, 2300m, on my home computer only.

Coloradia species, Mexico, courtesy Bernhard Wenczel.

Coloradia ocambensisfemale, Mexico, courtesy Bernhard Wenczel.

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.

Pinus.......

Pine

Return to Main Saturniidae 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 ocambensis is indicative of a specimen type location in Municipio de Ocambo, Chihuahua, Mexico.