Rothschildia tucumani
Updated as per Heppner's Checklist: Part 4B 1996, January 1, 2005
Updated as per Lemaire's Attacidae 1978, December 29, 2005

Rothschildia tucumani
rawths-CHILD-ee-uhmmtoo-koo-MAN-eye
(Dognin, 1901) (Attacus tucumani)

Rothschildia tucumani male, copyright protected, 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

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 midi by Mel Webb

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DISTRIBUTION:

Rothschildia tucumani flies in
Argentina (specimen type locality): Tucuman, possibly Salta; and
Bolivia: Santa Cruz, possibly Tarija and Chuquisaca; generally at lower elevations than R. condor.

R. tucumani has been placed in the subgroup of six species characterized by 1) two longitudinal white stripes on the dorsal surface of the abdomen, 2) two or three subapical spots on the forewing and 3) a white prothoracic collar: jacobaeae; condor; tucumani; erycina; belus; hopfferi.

Jacobaeae, condor and tucumani have large rounded spots, while those of erycina, belus and hopfferi are narrow triangles.

Rothschildia tucumani male, courtesy of Johnny Marchant.

The male R. tucumani has a paler orangey-brown ground colour, smaller size, and the third subapical spot is much reduced or absent, distinguishing it from condor and jacobaeae. The female is much darker.

Rothschildia tucumani female, courtesy of Johnny Marchant.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species feeds on Eupatorium buniifolium.

Nigel Venters writes,

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Like the diurnal Rothschildia zacateca, this species apparently calls and pairs in the morning.

Johnny Marchant obtained this pairing around 11:00 am., October 3, 2005 (spring time in Argentina and Bolivia), just after I "wished him luck".

There is no charge for this service.

The female's forewings are broader than the male's, and the apex is not produced as it is with the male.

Rothschildia tucumani female, courtesy of Werner Zoller.

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.

Rothschildia tucumani cycle, courtesy/copyright Kirby Wolfe.

Rothschildia tucumani larva, copyright protected, 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.

Baccharus species
Eupatorium buniifolium.....

Baccharis
Tolilla

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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, tucumani, is for the specimen type locality in Tucuman, Argentina.