Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760
Rothschildia cinctus
This record describes Rothschildia cinctus (species). Recorded family: Saturniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Cocoons are used as ankle rattles by American Indians during ceremonial dances
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Bombycoidea
- Family
- Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)
- Subfamily
- Saturniinae
- Tribe
- Attacini
- Genus
- Rothschildia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern Arizona is the northern limit and species is often rare there; Baboquivari Mountains, south-central and western Pima County, Santa Cruz County, Organ Pipe National Monument
Seasonal Activity
adults fly during the monsoons of July and August. On the wing in Organ Pipe National Monument region from December until February
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults do not feed Larval hosts are primarily Limberbush Jatropha cardiophylla , and no doubt Willow Sallix in riparian areas. Moths of southeastern Arizona lists hopbush Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rothschildia cinctus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760
What is Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760?
Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760 (Rothschildia cinctus) is a species in the family Saturniidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760?
10-13 cm
Where is Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760 found?
Range: Southern Arizona is the northern limit and species is often rare there; Baboquivari Mountains, south-central and western Pima County, Santa Cruz County, Organ Pipe National Monument
What does Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760 eat?
The diet of the Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760 includes Adults do not feed Larval hosts are primarily Limberbush Jatropha cardiophylla , and no doubt Willow Sallix in riparian areas. Moths of southeastern Arizona lists hopbush Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae).
When is Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760 active?
Rothschildia cinctus - Hodges#7760: seasonal activity - adults fly during the monsoons of July and August. On the wing in Organ Pipe National Monument region from December until February.