DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia erycina (wingspan: males: 93-113mm; females: ?) occurs in its various subspecies from Mexico to Argentina.

The nominate subspecies flies in French Guiana: Kaw, Baduel;
throughout Venezuela;
southern Trinidad;
throughout Guyana;
throughout Suriname;
Brazil: Para, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Goias, probably all states west of those mentioned;
eastern Colombia: Amazonas (RTN);
eastern Ecuador: Sucumbios (LTR), Napo (HK), Orellana (LTR), Pastaza (LTR), Tungurahua (LTR), Morona-Santiago (LTR) and Zamora Chinchipe (LTR);
eastern Peru: Amazonas (LTR), Junin (VI) probably Loreto (DR), San Martin, Huanuco, Pasco; and
Paraguay: Cordillera, San Pedro (PS), probably Amanbay, Canindeyu, Concepcion.

Visit Rothschildia erycina erycina male, Ecuador, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

R. erycina has been placed in the subgroup of six species characterized by 1) two longitudinal white stripes on the dorsal surface of the abdomen, 2) two or three subapical spots on the forewing and 3) a white prothoracic collar: jacobaeae; condor; tucumani; erycina; belus; hopfferi.

Jacobaeae, condor and tucumani have large rounded spots, while those of erycina, belus and hopfferi are narrow triangles.

Rothschildia erycina erycina male, Napo Province, Ecuador,
November 22, 2003, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Rothschildia erycina erycina male (verso), Napo Province, Ecuador,
November 22, 2003, courtesy of Horst Kach.

R. erycina erycina has the carmen red ground colour of jacobaeae but is distinguished from it by a much produced forewing apex and the much reduced subapical spots.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Mato Grosso, Brazil, Eurides Furtado reports this species is bivoltine with moths on the wing from January-April and again from September-December.

The same appears true in Napo, Ecuador, with Horst Kach sending images of specimens taken in February and November.

Vladimir Izersky reports them on the wing in January-February in Rio Tambo, Junin, Peru, at elevations from 570-662m.

Shirley Sekarajasingham reports a November flight in northeastern Peru.

FGS reports flights in February and July in French Guiana.

Rodrigo Torres Nunez reports a September 23, 1999, flight in southern Colombia: Amazonas: Leticia.

Visit Rothschildia erycina erycina male and female, Rio Tambo, Junin, Peru, courtesy of Vladimir Izersky.

Rothschildia erycina erycina, male, Hollin, Napo, Ecuador,
February 28, 2006, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Rothschildia erycina erycina, male (verso), Hollin, Napo, Ecuador,
February 28, 2006, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Rothschildia erycina erycina male, Leticia, Amazonas, Colombia,
93mm, September 23, 2011, courtesy of Rodrigo Torres Nunez.

Rothschildia erycina erycina male, Mora, Colombia,
113mm, courtesy of Rodrigo Torres Nunez.

Rothschildia erycina larvae feed on Ailanthus altissima, Coutarea hexandra, Exostema mexicanum and Ligustrum in captivity, and they have been documented on Antonia ovata and Cenostigma macrophyllum in the wild.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use well-developed antennae to seek out females which scent at night.

Pair usually remains coupled for up to twenty hours.

Rothschildia erycina female, courtesy/copyright of Kirby Wolfe.

Rothschildia erycina, Paraguay, courtesy/copyright Ulf Drechsel.

Rothschildia erycina female, northeastern Peru,
November 18, 2007, courtesy of Shirley Sekarajasingham.

Rothschildia erycina erycina female, Maynas, Loreto, Peru,
December 25, 2004, courtesy of Dan Rosenberg, id by Bill Oehlke.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are large and white and incubate for only seven days. Larvae are particularly striking in fifth instar. Photo courtesy of Chris Conlan.

In Costa Rica, Dan Janzen has taken several photos of erycina larvae either descending tree trunks or on the ground, but this cocoon seems typical of Rothschildia, fastened with a strong peduncle to a leafy branch. It is interestingtowatch theRothschildiaspin their cocoons, especially in the early stages when the larva, tirelessly weaving back and forth, up and down, can still be seen through the outer silk.

First instar larvae are gregarious and banded with black rings on a yellow-orange body. Image courtesy of Ian Mascall.

Fourth instar larvae are solitary and are beginning to take on some of the spectacular colouration of the final instar. Image courtesy of Ian Mascall.

Red, white and black larval colours usually suggest toxins or an unpleasant taste to would-be predators, but predatory beetles do not miss a chance to feast on a plump erycina larva.

This muddy brown pupa has been removed from its cocoon. It will emerge whether reinserted into its cocoon or some other artificial wrap or simply left as a naked pupa. Image courtesy of Angelo Santin.

Rothschildia erycina larva, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

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.

Ailanthus altissima Antonia ovata Cenostigma macrophyllum....... Coutarea hexandra Exostema mexicanum Ligustrum

ailanthus Antonia ovata Cenostigma macrophyllum Coutarea Princewood Privet

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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.

"Rothschildia" is chosen to honour one of the Rothschilds, possibly William.

The species name, erycina, is for Eryx of Sicily who became known to the Romans as Venus Erycina, more commonly known as Venus, the beautiful goddess of love.

Rothschildia erycina erycina male, Anaconda oil fields, 18k East by South-east of the town of Coca,
otherwise known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana, on the Rio Napo, Orellana, Ecuador,
April 14, 2011, 290m, courtesy of Tony Hoare via Peter Bruce-Jones.

Rothschildia erycina erycna male, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck

Rothschildia erycina erycna female, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck

Rothschildia erycina erycina female, French Guiana, courtesy of Robert Vuattoux