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Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, January 1, 2005 Updated as per Lemaire's Attacidae 1978, December 29, 2005 Updated as per personal communication with Nigel Venters (Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, November 26, 2008, 115mm, 2000m; mid October, 2009), February 2009; October 2009 Updated as per personal communication with Nigel Venters (Calilegua, Jujuy, Argentina, 1100m, February 17, 2010); February 2010 Updated as per personal communication with Nigel Venters, November 19, 2010 |
TAXONOMY:Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 |
"Girl from Ipanema"
midi by Mel WebbON.OFF |
Rothschildia condor male, Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina,
115mm, November 26, 2008, 2000m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Jacobaeae, condor and tucumani have large rounded spots, while those of erycina, belus and hopfferi are narrow triangles.
R. condor has a very dark brown to black ground colour, distinguishing it from jacobaeae and tucumani. Condor has narrow hyaline regions and three relatively large subapical spots.
Nigel Venters, writes, November 19, 2010, "It now seems pretty certain to me that R. condor has a single generation per year, (at least in Tucuman). The first fresh males being seen in early November, then there is a staggered emergenge over the next month, and the final ragged females being seen in very early Jan.
"This info is based on personal observation and breeding both these species through a two year cycle. Hope this is of interest to you!"
Rothschildia condor female, Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000 meters
November 19, 2010, courtesy of Nigel Venters,
ex ova from females caught November 12, 2009.
Rothschildia condor female, Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000 meters
November 19, 2010, courtesy of Nigel Venters,
ex ova from females caught November 12, 2009.
Nigel writes, "R. condor proved to be a bit of a problem initially, it may start to nibble on Ailanthus and Syringa, but it results in 100% deaths I'm afraid. We have two types of Ligustrum here, one being the large L. lucidum, which it will not touch, and 100% deaths again, and the other is the common European Privet, L. vulgare, which amazingly is 100% reliable! Even a friend who stayed with us, who took a dozen tiny larvae back to the UK manged 100% success on this plant. Hope this is of interest."
Rothschildia condor male, Calilegua, Jujuy, Argentina,
February 17, 2010, 1100m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Rothschildia condor, third instar lateral view, on oak,
Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Rothschildia condor, third instar dorsal view, on oak,
Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Rothschildia condor, fifth instar,
Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Rothschildia condor, fifth instar,
Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Rothschildia condor, fifth instar,
Argentina, courtesy of Chris Conlan.
It is interesting to watch Rothschildia fashion their cocoons. For some species a strong peduncle with a few support silk strands secures the structure while the larva continues "padding its nest" with a continuous back-and-forth movement of the head.
There are both inner and outer cocoons, each with a relatively long valve to facilitate eclosions.
For some species, cocoons are affixed longitudinally to stems as per members of the Hyalophora genus.
Rothschildia condor, cocoon,
Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Rothschildia condor, pupa,
Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Visit Rothschildia condor eggs,
all instars and cocoon, Argentina, courtesy of Leroy Simon.
Visit Rothschildia condor male and larva,
courtesy of Gary Saunders.
Ailanthus altissima..... |
Ailanthus |
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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.
There are many collectors from different countries whose
intonations and accents would be different.
The species name, condor, was probably chosen as this moth
flies at high altitude as does the South American condor (bird).