Hyalophora leonis
Nassig, Nogueira, Naumann, 2014

Hyalophora leonis male, 117mm, Nuevo Leon, Mexico,
courtesy of Kelly Price, slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 or Attacinae, Blanchard,1840 Tribe: Attacini, Blanchard, 1841 Genus: Hyalophora, Duncan, 1841

DISTRIBUTION:

Hyalophora leonis (approximate wingspan: males: 117mm; females: 127mm // forewing length: males: mm; females: ??) flies in
Mexico: Nuevo Leon: Coahuila, Sierra Madre Oriental.

Hyalophora leonis male, Sierra Mardre Oriental, Nuevo Leon, Mexico,
courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse.

Hyalophora leonis "is a medium-sized to large species within the genus. It is unique in the genus by the combination of its carmine red ground colour, the relatively wide white ante- and postmedian lines and marginal area, the small, somewhat rounded forewing ocellular patches in combination with drop-like patches of the hindwing, the huge blue portion of the subapical ocellus, the striking white tufts on both male and female abdomen; and in male genitalia the shape of the valves, especially the ventral part, appears to be diagnostic."

Hyalophora leonis male, Mexico, courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse,
slight digital repair to right forewing outer margin by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is probably just one brood, with moths on the wing (probably) in July. There may be additional flight months (June (yes; DB) and or August).

Caterpillars probably feed on a wide range of plants, but the natural host is unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Female moths extend a scent gland from the posterior of the abdomen at night, and males, flying into the wind, are able to follow the plume and locate the female.

Hyalophora leonis female, 8 km w Laguna de Sanchez, Nueva Leon. Mexico,
127mm/5 inches, June 2014, 1800m, courtesy of Derek Brdgehouse, digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Females glue eggs singly or in clumps on leaves of the host plant.

The eggs hatch in 9-14 days and the caterpillars consume foliage.

The "assumed" bottle-shaped, double-walled cocoon is spun in the outer part of the host plant and is attached to a twig by only one-half to two-thirds its length, leaving the valved-neck free in the air.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of an anticipated alternative foodplant will prove useful. Natural foodplant is unknown as of 2014. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Acer glabrum Alnus rubra Amelanchier alnifolia Amelancher florida Arctostaphylos glauca Arctostaphylos patula Betula occidentalis Ceanothus cordulatus Ceanothus integerrimus Ceanothus sanguineus Ceanothus velutinus Ceanothus thyrsiflorus....... Cephalanthus Coffea Laryx laricina Liquidambar styraciflua Malus pumila Photinia arbutifolia Picea Prunus demissa Prunus emarginata Prunus serotina Prunus virginiana Pseudotsuga menziesii Purshia tridentata Pyrus malus Quercus Rhamnus californicus Rhamnus crocea Rhamnus purshiana Rhus arbutus Rhus laurina Ribes alpinum Ribes sanguineum Rosa Salix babylonica Salix discolor Salix exigua Schinus molle Shepherdia argentea Shepherdia canadensis Syringa vulgaris

Maple Red alder Western serviceberry Western serviceberry Black bearberry Greenleaf manzanita Mountain/Water birch Mountain whitethorn Deer brush Ceanothus Snowbrush Blueblossom/Cat's claw Buttonbush Coffee Tamarack Sweetgum Apple Christmasberry Spruce Western chokecherry Bitter cherry Wild black cherry Chokecherry Douglas fir Antelope bitter brush Apple Oak California coffee-berry Hollyleaf buckthorn Cascara Sumac Laurel sumac Alpine currant Currant Rose Weeping willow Pussy willow Sandbar willow California peppertree........... Silver buffaloberry Soapberry Lilac

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