description Orizaba silkmoth Overview
The Orizaba silkmoth (Rothschildia orizaba) is a large saturniid moth in the family Saturniidae, native to regions from Mexico through Central America into South America. The species was described by the English entomologist John O. Westwood in 1854. Like other members of the genus Rothschildia, it features prominent translucent spots on its wings known as fenestrae or wing windows.
Its name references Orizaba, a city and volcano in the Mexican state of Veracruz.
help Orizaba silkmoth FAQ
What is the Orizaba silkmoth scientifically?
It is Rothschildia orizaba, a large moth in the Saturniidae family, also called the four-mirror moth in Mexico. Its range extends from Mexico through Central America into South America. [ITIS](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=936213), [Moth Photographers Group](https://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7762)
Why is it called the four-mirror or four-windows moth?
Each of its four wings has a translucent window, which creates the mirror-like pattern visible in photographs. Mexican sources also call it the four-mirror moth, while the species name is Rothschildia orizaba. [Universidad Francisco Marroquín](https://arboretum.ufm.edu/animales/rothschildia-orizaba/), [AP News](https://apnews.com/article/fcc6e92a793d732a8b6921221f29a7d1)
How large does an Orizaba silkmoth get?
Adults are large saturniids with a reported wingspan of about 13 to 15 centimetres, or roughly 5.1 to 5.9 inches. The brown-maroon wings and four clear windows are more useful identification clues than size alone. [Universidad Francisco Marroquín](https://arboretum.ufm.edu/animales/rothschildia-orizaba/)
What do Orizaba silkmoth caterpillars eat?
Recorded host plants include genera such as Coffea, Ligustrum, Prunus, Rhus, Salix, and Sassafras. In plain terms, larvae may use coffee, privet, fruit-tree, sumac, willow, or sassafras relatives depending on the region. [Moth Photographers Group](https://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=7762)
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