Aspectos biológicos e morfológicos de Rothschildia aurota speculifera (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae): uma mariposa diapausante

The genus Rothschildia Grote, 1897 presents broad geographical distribution in the Americas. The genus is represented by 36 species and 14 which found in Brazil. This study describes the biology, external morphology of the immature stages and the monitoring of the pupal stage of Rothschildia aurota speculifera (Walker, 1855). The first instar head chaetotaxy, egg and pupa stages are compared with other Saturniidae species belonging to Hemileucinae, Ceratocampinae, and Saturniinae and the natural history with other Rothschildia species. The egg stage had duration of 12-14 days, larval 34-39 days; pre-pupa and pupa totaled 37-632 days. The duration of last immature stage indicates that this subspecies is diapausante. Five instars were confirmed by the Dyar rule, with a growth rate of K = 1.4.