Citheronia splendens

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Citheronia splendens
Citheronia splendens, male

Citheronia splendens , male

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Peacock moth (Saturniidae)
Subfamily : Ceratocampinae
Genre : Citheronia
Type : Citheronia splendens
Scientific name
Citheronia splendens
( Druce , 1886)
Gossypium thurberi , the main food plant of the caterpillars

Citheronia splendens is a butterfly from the family of the peacock moth (Saturniidae).

description

butterfly

The moths reach a wingspan of 106 to 150 millimeters. The females are slightly larger than the males. The coloring and drawing are similar in both sexes. The basic color of the wings varies from pale reddish brown to gray-brown. On the upper side of the forewing, several whitish to yellowish oval spots stand out in the post-disk region . A spot of the same color is located on the wing root. Next to another bright spot is a black-brown discal spot . The upper sides of the hind wings are provided with yellow-white areas on the front and inner edge . The orange-red veins on all wings are striking. Thorax and abdomen are reddish and gradually yellowish hairy. The antennae of the males have a distinct comb teeth on both sides, the antennae of the females are thread-shaped. A proboscis is missing.

Caterpillar

Young caterpillars are orange-red and black in color and resemble bird droppings. When fully grown, the basic colors of the caterpillars vary from cream to pink and light brown to reddish brown. Behind the head they show three rows of long, black or white, antler-like horns. The rest of the body is covered with shorter, prickly scoli.

  • Young caterpillar

  • Freshly skinned caterpillar

  • Video of a caterpillar

Similar species

The moths of Citheronia regalis show less bright spots on the upper side of the forewing. The black-brown discal spot is missing or only hinted at. The fully grown caterpillars, which are greenish or turquoise in color in Citheronia regalis, differ significantly .

Distribution, subspecies and habitat

Citheronia splendens occurs locally with the subspecies Citheronia splendens sinaloensis in southern Arizona and New Mexico . The subspecies Citheronia splendens splendens and Citheronia splendens queretana can be found in Mexico . The species prefers to colonize alluvial forests and bushland in the foothills.

Way of life

The nocturnal moths of Citheronia splendens fly in one generation from July to August. They do not eat any food. At night they visit artificial light sources , primarily the males. The females lay the eggs individually or in small groups of up to four on the top or bottom of the leaves of the food plant. The caterpillars prefer to feed on the leaves of Gossypium thurberi , a species belonging to the cotton plant ( Gossypium ). However, they were also found on Rhus trilobata , Arctostaphylos pungens and Rhus choriophylla . Pupation takes place in a cave in the earth. The pupa hibernates.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Butterflies and Moths of North America
  2. ^ A b c d Paul M. Tuskes, James P. Tuttle, and Michael M. Collins: The Wild Silk Moths of North America , Cornell University Press, ISBN 0-8014-3130-1 , 1996, pp. 63-64
  3. ↑ Markku Savela: Tanaecia Butler (1869) - distribution. In: Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Retrieved January 30, 2019 .

Web links

Commons : Citheronia splendens  - collection of images, videos and audio files