DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia speculifer (wingspan: males: 137mm; females: ) flies in
Argentina: Misiones; and
Brazil: Bahia; Minas Gerais; Sao Paulo; and probably in most eastern Brazilian states.

Rothschildia speculifer speculifer male, Carandai, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
October 13, 2004, courtesy of Leonardo Pimenta de Acevedo

Originally treated as Attacus speculifera, this moth then became known as R. aurota speculifera, until recently (2012) when it was elevated to full species status by Brechlin & Meister as Rothschildia speculifer.

Rothschildia speculifer male, Avanhandava, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
January 14, 2014, courtesy of Alexander von Buldring.

This moth has more pink in the forewings than most other Rothschildia and has less dentate postmedial lines compared to the nominate subspecies.

Rothschildia aurota speculifera female, Misiones, Argentina,
courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

Rothschildia speculifer male, Misiones, Argentina,
courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect there are three broods annually with peak flights likely to occur in January (JW)-February, June-July and again in October.

This species prefers privet in captivity and also eats Cephalanthus, Fraxinus, Ligustrum, Prunus and Syringa vulgaris.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Night flying males are attracted to female's airbourne pheromones. Most activity occurs from just before midnight until 3:30 am. Moths do visit lights.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Large, smooth, white eggs are laid in patches.

Larvae like it warm and dry although an occasional sprinkling of tepid water on the leaves is beneficial. Caterpillars get quite large and need fresh food.

Cocoon remains affixed to tree branch via a very short peduncle. A valve in the leaf-wrapped cocoon allows for easy exit.

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.

Cephalanthus Citrus (LV) Fraxinus Ligustrum japonica Prunus Syringa vulgaris .........

Buttonbush Citrus White ash Japanese privet Cherry Lilac

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Return to Rothschildia Index

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 reason for the species name, speculifer, but "speculifera" means 'mirror bearing' and probably refers to the large hyaline areas which are sometimes reflective, or the fact that the moth so closely resembles (mirror image) the nominate subspecies.

Rothschildia speculifer speculifer male, Bahia, Brazil,
on my home computer only.

Rothschildia speculifer speculifer male, 137mm, Misiones, Argentina,
on my home computer only.