DISTRIBUTION:

Othorene verana verapaziana (wingspan: males: 81mm; females: mm // mfwl: 37-44mm; f: ) flies in
Guatemala: Alta Verapaz; Baja Verapaz; Solola; Izabal; at elevations of 520-1660m.

The female is unknown as of 2011, but perhaps the specimen depicted below from Guatemala is the female Othorene verana verapaziana.

If the male at the top of the page is correctly identified, then this species also flies in northern Honduras: Cortes. It might?? also fly in Nicaragua, based on image from Jean Michael Maes website.

Othorene verana verapaziana??, Guatemala, courtesy of Alan Marson,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke; note unusual hind wing shape, possibly angulation of wing?

In 2011, Brechlin & Meister named, described and depicted three new subspecies/species in the Verana Group, listed below from north to south with regard to specimen type location:

Verana Group:

Othorene verana verana mfwl=33-39mm, Mexico: San Luis Potosi; orangey ground colour; pm line bends down toward i.m.
Othorene verana veroaxensis mfwl=42-48mm, Mexico: Oaxaca;
Othorene verana verapaziana mfwl=37-44mm, Guatemala: Alta Verapaz; Baja Verapaz; Solola; Izabal; dark brown ground colour; pm line bends down toward i.m.
Othorene bernardoespinozai mfwl=34-38mm, Costa Rica: Guanacaste; Nicaragua: Jinotega; orangey ground colour; undulating fw outer margin

Othorene verana verapaziana male, Cerro Tomabu, Esteli, Nicaragua,
October 29, 2000, 1294m, courtesy of Jean Michael Maes, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Othorene verana verapaziana have have been taken in July-August. There are probably additional flight months.

Larvae probably feed upon Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) and other oak species (Quercus oleoides).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate females at night by tracking the airbourne pheromone plume.

Both sexes probably come in to lights with peak activity likely from 10:30 pm until 1:30 am.

Othorene verana ?? male (Mexico) courtesy of Dr. Manuel A. Balcazar Lara

The specimen depicted above is quite similar to the image in the Entomo Satsphingia journal for subspecies "verapaziana", but verapaziana would not likely be fouond in Mexico along with the nominate subspecies as well as O. verana veroaxensis.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

The following descriptions are for the nominate subspecies, but I suspect "verapaziana" larvae would be quite similar. Tiny larvae have extensive thoracic horns, a narrow red collar just below the shiny brown head and smaller reddish brown lateral and dorsal scoli running the length of the body.

Incubation time for yellowish eggs is short in June, only seven to eight days.

Thoracic horns remain well-developed throughout second and third instars, but larval body takes on pale green colour.

The anal horn is projected toward the head. Enlarged thoracic, dorsal scoli are greatly diminished by final instar, and larvae show colour variations similar to Eacles imperialis, having both green and brown forms.

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

Quercus gambelii Quercus oleoides...... Quercus robur (TD)

Gambel oak Oak species English oak

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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.

I do not know the origin of the genus name Othorene.

Nor do I know the reason for the species name "verana". The subspecies name verapaziana is indicative of a specimen type location in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.

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Othorene verana verapaziana male, 81mm, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala,
on my home computer only.