Rothschildia lebeau aroma
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 Robert Lehman, Honduras, May 1, 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Ronald D. Cave (Honduras), July 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Angus MaIntyre (Yaxchilan, Chiapas, Mexico, May 23, 1999): September 10, 2012

Rothschildia lebeau aroma
rawths-CHILD-ee-uhMLEH-bohMah-ROH-muh
Schaus, 1905

Rothschildia lebeau aroma in copula, Yaxchilan, Chiapas, Mexico,
May 23, 1999, courtesy of Angus McIntrye, id by Bill Oehlke.

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

ON.OFF
<bgsound src="Ipanem.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>


DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia lebeau aroma flies in Honduras: Atlantida: La Ceiba (RL), Yoro: El Merendon (RL) Santa Barbara: San Jose de Los Andes (RL) at 250-1600m, and Francisco Morazan (RC) and probably in Cortes (WO); Guatemala: Izabal; Belize: Orange Walk, Cayo, Belize, Stann Creek and Toledo; and Mexico: Veracruz, Puebla, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Michoacan.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma male, Honduras, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma male, Honduras, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma belongs to a group of four species: lebeau, cincta, prionia, paucidentata. All four species lack white scales on the outer margin of the hindwings. In lebeau subspecies the postmedian line is straight and only slightly dentate and irregularly waved in the area between the costa and the outer angle of the hyaline spot.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma male, Honduras, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

This subspecies greatly resembles l. inca, but tends to have a more brilliant ground colour, often dark brown, orange, pink. Occasionally there are some white scales in the outer margin of the forewing, but such scales are usually absent.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma, Guatemala, courtesy of Bedros Orchanian.

Rothschildia lebeau aroma male, Atlantida, Honduras, courtesy of Ronald D. Cave

Rothschildia lebeau aroma female, wingspan: 11.4cm, Honduras, courtesy of Ronald D. Cave

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Honduras Robert Lehman reports them on the wing in April, May, June and July.

This species will probably accept Ligustrum (privet), 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
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, lebeau, is honourific for Lebeau, but I do not know the reason for the subspecies name aroma.

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On my home computer only: Rothschildia lebeau aroma male and female, Chiapas, Mexico.