TAXONOMY:
Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Attacini, Blanchard, 1840
Genus: Rothschildia, Grote, 1896
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MIDI MUSIC
"Girl from Ipanema"
midi by Mel Webb
ON.OFF
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DISTRIBUTION:
Rothschildia schreiteriana
flies at low elevation in
Argentina: Chaco, Tucuman, La Rioga,
Santiago del Estero and Salta; and in
Paraguay: Boqueron
and Presidente Hayes.
Rothschidia schreiteriana male, Argentina, reared on
Ligustrum, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.
The forewing apex is more pronounced than in look-alike
maurus, the hyaline spots are larger and more rounded and
the postmedian bands are broad and evenly dentate with much pink
scaling toward the outer margin.
Rothschildia maurus (male) more likely schreiteriana, Argentina, courtesy of
Eric van Schayck.
Rothschildia schreiteriana (male), Argentina, courtesy of
Eric van Schayck.
Rothschildia maurus (female) more likely schreiteriana, Argentina, courtesy of
Eric van Schayck.
Rothschildia schreiteriana (female), Argentina, courtesy of
Eric van Schayck.
Based on Lemaire's description, I think the images by Eric van Schayck
on this page are more likely those of the very similar
Rothschildia schreiteriana.
Note the very straight forewing postmedial line in the Pablo Wagner
images as compared to the convex pm line in the EvS images. Also
note the differences in the hw postmedial line and the shape of the
hyaline spots.
FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:
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.
Rothschidia schreiteriana male courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.
The wings of the female are more rounded, less falcate.
Rothschidia schreiteriana female.
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. Image courtesy of Ian Mascall. |
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There are
both inner and outer cocoons, each with a relatively long valve to facilitate eclosions.
Rothschidia schreiteriana larva courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.
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
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Ailanthus Privet Oak Common lilac
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Return to Main Index
Return to Rothschildia Index
For additional images, go to
Hubert Mayer image
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, schreiteriana, is probably for the figures supplied by Schreiter in 1925