DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia erycina mexicana (wingspan: males: 78-84mm; females: 79mm) flies in Mexico: San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas and Quintana Roo; and in Guatemala: Escuintla, El Peten and Zacapa and Quetzaltenango (JMS); and in Belize: Cayo; and in Honduras: Atlantida (RL, 440m), Francisco Morazan (RC), probably Yoro (WO?) and El Paraiso (WO?); and in Nicaragua: Matagalpa, Granada, Rio San Juan. 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. R. erycina mexicana is the smallest and darkest of the erycina subspecies and is best identified by the indentation on the inward side of the hyaline spot on all four wings. Rothschildia erycina mexicana pair; male 78mm, female 79mm; courtesy of Johnny Marchant.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Robert Lehman reports a late january flight in Honduras. There are probably flights in other months.

This species will probably accept Ligustrum (privet), lilac, ailanthus and oak.

Rothschildia e. mexicana male, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, courtesy of Jose Monzon Sierra.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Like most of the Rothschildia, except for the diurnal zacateca, this species calls and pairs at night.

Rothschildia e. mexicana male, Rio Cangrejal, Atlantida, Honduras,
84mm, January 30, 2009, 440m, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

There are both inner and outer cocoons, each with a relatively long valve to facilitate eclosions.

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.

Ailanthus altissima..... Ligustrum Quercus Syringa vulgaris

Ailanthus Privet Oak Common lilac

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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.

The subspecies name, mexicana is for the specimen type locality in Veracruz, Mexico.

On my home computer only: Rothschildia erycina mexicana male and female, Chiapas, Mexico.