Agapema anona (Ottolengui, 1903)

Suitable host plants:
Celtis pallida (Cannabaceae) “Desert hackberry”
Condalia ericoides (Rhamnaceae) “Javelin bush”
Condalia hookeri (Rhamnaceae) “Bluewood condalia”
Condalia spathulata (Rhamnaceae) “Knifeleaf condalia”
Condalia viridis (Rhamnaceae) “Gree n condalia”
Lycium sp. (Solanaceae) “boxthorn/desert-thorn/wolfberry”
Rhus microphylla (Anacardiaceae) “littleleaf sumac”
Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Sarcobataceae) “Greasewood”

Recommendations: In the wild they seem to be recorded most frequently on Sacrobatus and have also been dubbed the “Greasewood silkmoth”.  All Rhamnaceae should be worth a try, although this species seems to be picky and is rather shy to try out any alternative host plants. Rearing experiments have reportedly failed on Rhamnus and Ceonothus,  two commonly found Rhamnaceae, although  such experiments can fail for a multitude of reasons not limited to the host plant. Although other Agapema species have been raised on Rhamnus, Ribes, Salix, Prunus and Ligustrum, I speculate that Agapema anona is much pickier and less likely to accept alternative Rhamnaceae species in captivity.

Common name:  “Mexican agapema”
Distribution: Arizona NA, New Mexico, Mexico 

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Citations: Coppens, B. 2019

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The aim of this website is to provide information about many species of moths and butterflies around the world, with a slight focus on rearing them in captivity.

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