Citheronia
Citheronia regalis
Citheronia is a genus of butterflies of the family of peacock moth ( Saturniidae ). There are 21 known species.
Features
The moths are relatively large and have a strong body. Their color ranges from orange to brown, with most species bear a striking yellow or white patterning. The forewings are elongate and give the animals a certain resemblance to enthusiasts. Some species have Diskalflecke. The hind wings are rounded and proportionally reduced somewhat. The antennae of the males are twice pinnate, those of the females are thready.
Initially, the projections ( Scoli ) are large at the back of the track of all species of the ratio. This Scoli have earned them the English common name " horned devils " ( " horned devil "). The caterpillars are very impressive in their appearance and can be over 150 millimeters long.
Occurrence
The genus is widely distributed on the two American continents. The distribution area extends from the temperate northeastern United States of Central America and south to large parts of South America. The main distribution area is the Neotropics, only three species occur in the United States ( Citheronia regalis, Citheronia sepulcralis and Citheronia splendens '). There is historical evidence of a fourth type, which is due to close because of the occurrence in Mexico either Citheronia mexicana or Citheronia beledonon.
Way of life
The females lay their large, yellowish, transparent eggs in groups of two to six pieces at the caterpillar food plants from. Through the eggshell you can see the growing caterpillar significantly. After the fifth caterpillar stage they pupate in a chamber in the soil. There wintered the doll.
Species
The Global Lepidoptera Names Index of the Natural History Museum lists the following species of the genus:
- Citheronia sepulcralis Grote & Robinson, 1865
- Citheronia phoronea Cramer, 1779
- Citheronia collaris Rothschild, 1907
- Citheronia Guayaquila Schaus, 1927
- Citheronia lichyi Lemaire, 1971
- Citheronia laocoon Cramer, 1777
- Citheronia lobesis Rothschild, 1907
- Citheronia claveryi Bouvier, 1924
- Citheronia johnsoni Schaus, 1928
- Citheronia consobrina Rothschild, 1907
- Citheronia mogya Schaus, 1920
- Citheronia mexicana Grote & Robinson, 1866
- Citheronia andina Lemaire, 1971
- Citheronia beledonon Dyar, 1912
- Citheronia hamifera Rothschild, 1907
- Citheronia brissoti Boisduval, 1868
- Citheronia regalis (Fabricius, 1793)
- Citheronia azteca Schaus, 1896
- Citheronia splendens ( Druce, 1886)
- Citheronia vogleri Weyenbergh, 1878
- Citheronia pseudomexicana Lemaire, 1974