Rotschild's Silk Moth is a moth

Moth

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...

 of the Saturniidae

Saturniidae

The Saturniidae, commonly known as saturniids, are among the largest and most spectacular of the moths. They form a family of Lepidoptera, with an estimated 1,300 to 1,500 described species worldwide...

 family. It is found from Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 to Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

 and Paraguay

Paraguay

Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...

. The habitat

Habitat

* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...

 is tropical rainforest and wet savannah. It is found on altitudes of up to 1,200 meters above sea level.

The larvae feed on Ailanthus altissima, Coutarea, Exostema

Exostema

Exostema is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It consists of trees and shrubs, endemic to the neotropics, with most of the species occurring in the West Indies. Estimates of the number of species range from 25 to 44....

, Ligustrum

Ligustrum

Ligustrum is a genus of about forty species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees. They are now all known by the common name of privet.-Selected species:...

, Antonia

Antonia

-People:* Antonia , including a list of people with the name* Any woman of the Antonius family of ancient Rome* Antonia of Balzo , queen consort of Sicily* Princess Antonia of Württemberg * Princess Antónia of Portugal...

, Cenostigma

Cenostigma

Cenostigma is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub family Caesalpinioideae....

, Chiococca

Chiococca

Chiococca is a genus of flowering plants in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It comprises six species. They are native to Florida and the neotropics....

and Dodonea species. The larval stage lasts about 40 days. Pupation takes place in a large silken cocoon. The pupal stage lasts 3 to 4 weeks.

Subspecies

• Rothschildia erycina erycina
• Rothschildia erycina mexicana Draudt, 1929 (Mexico)
• Rothschildia erycina nigrescens Rothschild, 1907 (Costa Rica to Ecuador)