DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia orizaba (wingspan 115 (ESs)-135-160mm), having a number of subspecies, flies as the nominate subspecies throughout
Mexico: Distrito Federal, Mexico, Sinaloa, Veracruz (ESs), Oaxaca and Chiapas, and Guerrero (KP);
and through Central America:
Guatemala: San Cristobal Verapaz (Alta Verapaz), Coban (Alta Verapaz), Chimaltenango, Antigua (Sacatepequez);
Honduras: Olancho: La Muralla cloud forest National Park 1420 m near La Union, Francisco Morazan: La Tigra cloud forest National Park 1800 m above Tegucigalpa, Cortes: El Merendon cloud forest park 1500 m above San Pedro Sula, Atlantida: 17 km west of La Ceiba, 250 m. Ronald D. Cove confirms them in Ocotepeque and Yoro; I suspect they also fly in the departments of Comayagua and El Paraiso;
Nicaragua: Jinotega, Matagalpa;
Costa Rica: San Jose (CL), Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Heredia (IB);
Panama: Chiriqui. Its other subspecies fly into South America southward to Peru, Bolivia and Chile on the west side of the Andes.

Visit Rothschildia o. orizaba male, Kiri Lodge, Orosi, Cartago, Costa Rica, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Visit Rothschildia orizaba orizaba male, Mount Totumas Cloud Forest Farm, 1650+ m, Chiriqui, Panama, courtesy of Jeffrey Dietrich.

The prothoracic collar of the Orizaba Group (orizaba, aurota, chiris, roxana) is brown, only slightly bordered in white. These moths tend to be very large.

Rothschildia orizaba orizaba, 500m, Veracruz, Mexico, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Rothschildia orizaba, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Rothschildia orizaba orizaba male, 115mm, Veracruz, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

Rothschildia orizaba orizaba male, Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico,
courtesy/copyright of Jean Carlos Garcia, id by Bill Oehlke

The nominate subspecies flies at elevations of 1500-2200m (possibly significantly lower in Veracruz, Mexico; definitely lower in Atlantida, Honduras) in Central America: Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama. Hyaline spots are triangular with a slight inward indentation, but more rounded in females which tend to be lighter in colour than the dark to red-brown males. The postmedial line from the hyaline spot to the costa is straight and only slightly crenulate.

Rothschildia orizaba orizaba (female), courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Rothschildia orizaba female, 132mm, Guerrero, Mexico, courtesy of Kelly Price,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Rothschildia orizaba orizaba female, Veracruz, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Honduras, Robert Lehman reports them on the wing in February-March-April, June-July and September-October, indicating at least three broods annualy.

Because of the wide range, the preferred hostplants will vary with the area from which they are native. Near Mexico City the native populations eat Liquidambar.

Moths are on the wing during most of the "wet season" throughout their range with several broods occuring. In Mexico peak flights occur in May-June.

Schinus molle (Peppertree) is a preferred food plant in some locales, but privet is readily accepted, at least byRothschildia orizaba equitorialis. Larvae also do well on Prunus pennsylvanica (Pin cherry).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females attract the smaller, night-flying males with an airbourne pheromone.

The wings of the males are more angled.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Rothschildia orizaba 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.

Cephalanthus Fraxinus americana Ligustrum japonicum..... Liquidambar styraciflua Prunus armeniaca Prunus pensylvanica Prunus serotina Prunus virginiana Rhus laurina Salix Sassafras albidum Schinus molle Syringa vulgaris

Buttonbush White ash Japanese privet Sweetgum Apricot Pin cherry Wild black cherry Chokecherry Laurel sumac Willow Sassafras Peppertree Lilac

Return to Main Index

Return to Rothschildia Index

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

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, orizaba, is the name of a large city in the Mexican state of Veracruz.