DISTRIBUTION: Coloradia pandora pandora (wingspan: males: 63-82mm; females: 78-96mm) is the largest member of this genus and flies in montane regions of Oregon, California, Nevada and New Mexico, and in north eastern Utah, north western Wyoming, most of Colorado and western sections of South Dakota and Nebraska. Gerald Fauske reports them as far north as Slope County, North Dakota. John Davis reports them in southern Washington. Image courtesy of William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, taken in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon.

Lemaire equates Coloradia pandora lindseyi with nominate pandora.

Coloradia pandora male, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe. Note the feathery, gold antennae.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies in mountain coniferous habitats from early July to late September. Larvae feed on various species of pine.

Coloradia pandora female, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Usually females scent just after dusk and pairs stay coupled for just about an hour. However, when there are population explosions and in certain locales (Oregon) the moths seem diurnal.

Coloradia pandora male, Major Creek Road, Klickitat County, Washington,
September, courtesy/copyright of John Davis.

Coloradia pandora female, Major Creek Road, Klickitat County, Washington,
September, courtesy/copyright of John Davis.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Females fly as soon as copulation is over and lay clusters of 3-20 relatively large eggs on tree trunks, needles, and branches of pines. Eggs are green at first but turn bluish grey with a dark micropyle at maturity. Incubation can last from three to seven weeks.

Coloradia pandora early stages, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Larvae are highly gregarious at first with several caterpillars often feeding on a single pine needle. Larvae become more solitary as they mature, reaching lengths of 80 mm during their second summer. At the onset of cold weather larvae are usually small, only in second or early third instar. They congregate at the end of the branch at the base of the needles and hybernate until spring warmth starts new growth.

Coloradia pandora pandora larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

Diapause varies: some moths emerge in the fall of the pupation year; most emerge the following late summer or fall; some have been known to remain in diapause for up to five years. Pupation is in a loose cocoon/chamber just below surface debris.

Coloradia pandora Wolf Creek, Josephine County, Oregon,
July 28, 2011, courtesy of Edna Woodward.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. 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 contorta Pinus ponderosa..... Pinus strobus Pinus sylvestris

Lodgepole pine Ponderosa pine Eastern white pine Scotch pine

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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.

Coloradia, the genus name, was possibly chosen for the state of Colorado where Coloradia pandora, the genus specimen type, is widespread.

The species name pandora is from Greek mythology. Pandora was the "first woman on earth. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create her as vengeance upon man and his benefactor, Prometheus. The gods endowed her with every charm, together with curiosity and deceit. Zeus sent her as a wife to Epimetheus, Prometheus’ simple brother, and gave her a box that he forbade her to open. Despite Prometheus’ warnings, Epimetheus allowed her to open the box and let out all the evils that have since afflicted man. Hope alone remained inside the box."