Distribution:

(southern) Mexico and Belize

Wingspan:

In between 8 (males) and 11,5  (females) cm

Season:

two flights annually (early summer and (partially) September/October). Pupae overwinter

Food plants:

Prunus. Easy on Prunus serotina. 

Rearing:

An easy species, suitable for newcomers.  Keep warm and clean. The first 3 instars in well ventilated plastic containers. Older caterpillars in very large and very well ventilated plastic containers or (even better) a netted cage. Fast growing and ready to pupate within 4 weeks. Citheronia do not make a cocoon. When ready to pupate treat like Sphingidae and other underground pupating species. The pupal stage in between flights is somewhat unpredictable with adults emerging over a longer period of time (approximately 4 weeks to 2 months). Pupae of the last flight overwinter in a cool, unheated (frost free) room, not in the fridge. When you keep the pupae at living room temperature moths will continue to appear one by one throughout the entire winter.

Difficulties:

obtaining eggs, this is a rarely seen species