DISTRIBUTION:

Schausiella santarosensis (wingspan: males: 72-83mm (CL); 92-100mmm (RL); females: 98-130mm) flies in
Costa Rica: Guanacaste (CL) and Puntarenas (IB);
Nicaragua: Rio San Juan; and in
Honduras: Atlantida (RL). The population in La Ceiba, Atlantida, Honduras, has males that are quite large. Robert Lehman took a series of them, confirmed by DNA barcoding, ranging from 92-100mm.

A suffusion of brownish grey covers forewing except for the discal spot. In the female, the forewing discal spot is indistinct.

Schausiella santarosensis male, 17km west of La Ceiba, Atlantida, Honduras,
95mm, February 19, 2001, 100m, courtesy of Robert Lehman, tentative id by Bill Oehlke, confirmed by barcoding.

The specimen from Honduras is significantly larger than any S. santarosensis specimens reported by Lemaire and Janzen (CR), and its presence in Honduras represents a significant northerly extension of its known range. I also notice a slight difference in shape of hindwing (more rounded at apex) as compared to specimens illistrated for Costa Rica by Dan Janzen, and the forewing post median line is less preapical than for most S. santarosensis specimens. It is a "best match" for S. santarosensis, but it might be an undescribed species.

The specimens from Honduras have been confirmed as S. santarosensis via DNA barcoding.

Visit Schausiella santarosensis, males (recto and verso), La Ceiba, Atlantida, Honduras, February 2010, courtesy of Robert Lehman.

As with many Schausiella species, the size of the white patch along the forewing inner margin is quite variable, and the degree to which the pm line extends toward the inner margin is also highly variable.

Schausiella santarosensis male, Costa Rica,
72mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Schausiella santarosensis male, Costa Rica,
78mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Schausiella santarosensis male, Costa Rica,
80mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Schausiella santarosensis male (verso), Costa Rica,
80mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Schausiella santarosensis moths are on the wing from May to early June and then again in July-August. Robert Lehman reports a February flight in Honduras.

Larvae feed on Hymenaea courbaril.

Schausiella santarosensis female, Costa Rica,
98mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Schausiella santarosensis female (verso), Costa Rica,
98mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: Female Schausiella santarosensis moths attract the more colourful males at night with an airborrne pheromone. This scent is distributed into the wind from a structure extended from the tip of the abdomen. Males (image to the right) fly into the wind in a zigzag fashion and use their antennae, bipectinate for the basal two-thirds, to locate the "calling" females. This male antennae structure is definitive for the Ceratocampinae. Females begin their ovipositing flights at dusk after mating the previous night.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Typical of most Ceratocampinae, the eggs are slightly flattened, yellow and translucent. After just a few days, the developing embryos can be seen through the egg shells. Incubation time of eight days is typcial.

Larvae emerge with well developed thoracic spikes and thrash about when disturbed. Packaging within the egg shell must be quite efficient to allow for such magnificent development.

Spines remain well developed through first four instars. In the second instar, larvae take on a burgundy hue before adopting the standard green of later instars. Feeding is at night.

Fourth instar larvae have brown heads and spines remain well-developed. Growth is rapid during fourth and fifth instars. Larvae can fully develop in about one month.

The spines practically disappear in the final instar and larvae become very chunky. Head colouration has also changed. All images on this page are courtesy of Dan Janzen.

This larva will shortly descend the tree trunk and excavate a subterranean chamber in which to pupate. Development takes approximately three weeks for July-August eclosions.

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. 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.

Hymenaea courbaril......

West Indian locust

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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. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

The genus name "Schausiella" is probably ?? honourific for Schaus.

The species name "santarosensis" indicates a collecting location in Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica.