Rothschildia jorulla lichtenba
Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, January 1, 2005
Updated as per Lemaire's Attacidae 1978, December 27, 2005

Rothschildia jorulla lichtenba
roths-CHILD-ee-uhmmjuh-RULL-uhmmlik-TEN-bah
Dyar, 1912

Rothschildia jorulla lichtenba courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Attacini, Blanchard, 1840
Genus: Rothschildia, Grote, 1896

MIDI MUSIC

"Girl from Ipanema"
 midi by Mel Webb

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DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia jorulla lichtenba flies in Mexico: Oaxaca, Chiapas.

According to Chris Conlan, "Lichtenba is a beautiful subspecies of R. jorulla that can be very common in coastal Oaxaca and Chiapas sometimes but it is not well known either and rather rare in collections."

This subspecies has wider wings than nominate jorulla. Post medial lines are also broader and less deeply indented.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

It is interesting to watch Rothschildia fashion their cocoons. 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.

Larval Food Plants


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
Prunus
Quercus
Syringa vulgaris

Ailanthus
Privet
Cherry
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.

I do not know the etymology of the species name, jorulla, but there is a volcano called El Jorullo in Mexico.

I do not know the origin of the subspecies name lichtenba.

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On my home computer only: Rothschildia jorulla lichtenba male and female, Oaxaca, Mexico.