Saturniidae of Malaysia

Western Malaysia exists as a peninsula extending south from southern Thailand. Eastern Malaysia and Borneo comprise an island southeast of Vietnam and Cambodia. Some species are found in one region but not in the other.

Peninsular Malaysia

Many thanks to Teemu Klemetti for updates (*) to this list.

Attacus atlas (Linnaeus, 1758)

Archaeottacus edwardsi White, 1859 *
Archaeoattacus malayanus
Kurosawa and Kishida, 1985 ("1984")
Archaeoattacus staudingeri (Rothschild, 1895)

Samia kohlli Naumann & Peigler, 2001
Samia tetrica (Rebel, 1924)

Actias maenas diana Maassen in Maassen [& Weymer], 1872
Actias seitzi pahangensis Brechlin & Meister, 2012, Pahang: Cameron Highlands: Tana Ratah

With regard to the Loepa listed below, it is quite possible that neither L. megacore nor L. s. javanica fly in Malaysia. I am pretty sure that javanica has been elevated to full species status, and those moths from Malaysia, previously thought to be javanica, are probably Loepa siamensis malayensis, with Loepa javanica restricted to Java. Those specimens previously thought to be megacore are probably Loepa lampei or maybe Loepa vanschaycki.

Loepa lampei Paukstadt, Paukstadt & Brechlin 2011
Loepa megacore Jordan, 1911
Loepa siamensis malayensis, Brechlin, 2010
Loepa sikkima javanica Mell, 1938
Loepa vanschayckiBrechlin, 2012

Cricula bornea Watson, 1913 probably limited to eastern Malaysia: Sarawak and Sabah
Cricula cameronensis (U. & L. H. Paukstadt (1998) montane; flies at higher elevations (1600m); green larvae
Cricula elaezia Jordan, 1909
Cricula t. trifenestrata (Helfer, 1837) western Malaysia: (Kuala Lumpur/Genting Highlands area, Nässig, Maschwitz et al. unpubl.), Cameron Highlands (Brinchang); black larvae

Caligula thibeta Westwood, 1853 *

Saturnia cameronensis Lemaire, 1979 *

Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) youngi Watson, 1915 incorrectly listed as A. assamensis in Moths of Borneo Holloway, 1976, and as A. assamensis youngi in Die Saturniidae der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia, Lampe, 1984; it has been elevated to full species status

Antheraea (Antheraea) broschi Naumann, 2001 confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Antheraea (Antheraea) brunei Allen & Holloway, 1986 (only known from Belitung Island, probably in eastern Malaysia: coastal mangrove swamps)

Antheraea (Antheraea) diehli Lemaire, 1979 western (peninsular) Malaysia and eastern Malaysia: Sabah

Antheraea (Antheraea) gschwandneri Niepelt, 1918 (species-complex?) incorrectly listed as A. celebensis in both Moths of Borneo Holloway, 1976, and Die Saturniidae der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia, Lampe, 1984
Stefan Naumann indicates that A. gschwandneri has not yet been confirmed for western Malaysia. He suspects it is present, but would likely be a lowland species. Those items incorrected identified as celebensis and reported as gschwandneri by Nassig are actually broschi and steinkeorum.

Antheraea (Antheraea) helferi borneensis Moore, 1892 confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Antheraea (Antheraea) lampei Nässig & Holloway, 1989 incorrectly listed as A. korintjiana in Moths of Borneo Holloway, 1976, and as A. roylei korintjiana in Die Saturniidae der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia, Lampe, 1984 confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Antheraea (Antheraea) larissa (Westwood, 1847) I am not sure whether it is nominate larissa or larissa ridlyi that flies in Malaysia; at one time they were synonymized and then later again recognized as distinct confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Antheraea (Antheraea) larissa ridlyi Moore, 1892 I am not sure whether it is nominate larissa or larissa ridlyi that flies in Malaysia; at one time they were synonymized and then later again recognized as distinct; I favour larissa ridlyi for Malaysia.

Antheraea (Antheraea) mentawai Nässig, Lampe & Kager in Nässig, 2002 probably limited to lowlands if present

Antheraea (Antheraea) platessa platessa W. Rothschild, 1903 incorrecty listed as A. jana fusca in Die Saturniidae der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia, Lampe, 1984 confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Antheraea (Antheraea) pratti Bouvier, 1928 confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Antheraea (Antheraea) rosieri (Toxopeus, 1940) confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Antheraea (Antheraea) (pernyi) roylii korintjiana Bouvier, 1928 confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Antheraea (Antheraea) sumatrana Niepelt, 1926 probably limited to lowlands if present

Antheraea (Antheraea) ulrichbroschi U. Paukstadt & L.H. Paukstadt, 1999; synonym of steinkeorum according to Naumann, Paukstadt feels it is distinct.

Antheraea (Antheraea) steinkeorum U. Paukstadt, L.H. Paukstadt & Brosch, 1999 confirmed in Cameron-Highlands

Lemaireia loepoides (Butler, 1880)

Teemu Klemmeti sent me the picture of Frasers's Hill, Malaysia, Pahang state.

He writes, "It is taken on 1st of May 2003, from Frasers's Hill, Malaysia, Pahang state. This is a view from the the hilltop where I collected some nights on March-May this year.

"I found totally 22 Saturniidae species from this one spot! I think it is quite a well, because totally 25 species is known from Peninsular Malaysia.

"Here is the species list observed in this place:

"Attacus atlas
Archaeottacus edwardsi
Archaeoattacus staudingeri
Samia tetrica
Samia kohlli
Actias maenas diana
Actias selene vandenberghi
Loepa megacore
Loepa sikkima javanica
Cricula elaezia
Cricula trifenestrata
Caligula thibeta
Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) youngi
Antheraea (Antheraea) broschi
Antheraea (Antheraea) ulrichbroschi believed to be steinkeorum, according to Naumann who equates ulrichbroschi with steinkeorum
Antheraea (Antheraea) helferi borneensis
Antheraea (Antheraea) lampei
Antheraea (Antheraea) larissa ridlyi
Antheraea (Antheraea) platessa platessa
Antheraea (Antheraea) rosieri
Antheraea (Antheraea) roylii
Lemaireia loepoides"

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In an effort to better understand the Saturniidae (especially Antheraea, Cricula and Salassa of Thailand and Malaysia I specifically purchased Die Saturniidae der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia, Lampe, 1984, and Moths of Thailand, Volume One, Saturniidae, Pinratana and Lampe, 1990, both in March of 2009.

I had already purchased Bernard d' Abrera's Saturniidae Mundi III, 1990, and was aware of several online commentaries and individual reports: Wolfgang Nassig's commentary on Lampe's 1984 Die Saturniidae der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia, Ulrich Paukstadt's Malaysian Checklist (West Malaysia (Pahang); East Malaysia (Brunei, Sarawak)), Holloway's Moths of Borneo, 1976, and Nassig's commentary on that resource.

Regarding the potential of four or even more Cricula species in Malaysia, I find a lack of consistency among the writings. That comment should not be considered as a criticism as any of the works as I believe they are honest renderings, based on the knowledge of the day. Most of what has been written of the other genera, except Antheraea is quite consistent. There is still inconsistency regarding steinkeorum and ulrichbroschi, and presence of gschwandneri has not been verified. I am not sure if larissa is the nominate subspecies or larissa ridlyi.

Cricula trifenestrata

There is some clarification needed as to whether Cricula trifenestrata trifenestrata Helfer, 1837, or Cricula trifenestrata javana Watson, 1913, is the trifenestrata representative in peninsular Malaysia. Bernard d' Abrera's image of a male (60mm) C. trifenestrata shows a moth with a smaller wingspan than C. elaezia with a more rounded (less produced) apex, and a slightly less concave outer margin. There is less suffusion of dark scales on ground colour, which can vary from mustard to reddish brown to burnt umber. The lower (apex of the cell) of two hyaline spots is smaller than in elaezia, and the second spot, just below the costa, is generously ringed in black and, with its dark ornamentation, is as large as or larger than the lower spot. This is a reversal of the pattern seen in elaezia where the lower spot is significantly larger. The pm line is slightly concave in its upper half. The terminal/subterminal area is greyish in slight contrast to the basal/median area.

The hindwing cell marking is smaller than in elaezia and is centered between the am and pm lines.

In The Moths of Thailand the image of the male C. trifenestrata

Wolfgang Nassig writes regarding Cricula trifenestrata in Malaysia, "The status of Cricula trifenestrata is still somewhat unclear; a subspecific analysis of the trifenestrata group is still lacking."

Ulrich Paukstadt writes, "Cricula trifenestrata trifenestrata (Helfer, 1837)
Distribution: West Malaysia (Kedah, Pahang, Perak); East Malaysia (Brunei)
Remarks: the populations from Malaysia (incl. Borneo) are temporarily placed to the subspecific name trifenestrata."

Ulrich's image of a male trifenestrata (59mm) from West Malaysia, Kedah, Alor Setar, 10m, is a good match for the description above with the pm line being slightly concave in its upper half.

On one page Ulrich lists the subspecies as javana, but on another page he lists the subspecies as trifenestrata.

The image of a male C. trifenestrata in Moths of Thailand (60mm) shows relatively small hyaline spots on each wing. However, the forewing shows a series of black suboval marks toward the costa. The pm line is slightly concave in its upper half and there is contrast between the basal-median area (yellowish) and the terminal area (grey-beige).

Cricula eleazia

Cricula elaezia Jordan, 1909, is the second (by date of description) of four Cricula species/subspecies generally recognized (2009) from Malaysia. Bernard d' Abrera's image of the holotype male from western Java (4000 feet), 65.6mm, shows an almost uniform dull yellow-beige moth with a generous suffusion of dark scales in the median area. The lower third of the forewing along the entire inner margin has less of the darker suffusion and has an overall lighter appearance. The basal and terminal areas show slightly less yellow than the median area. The prominent, dark pm transverse line is straight and preapical, bending outward slightly just below the apex. Veins are dark and prominent, especially in the median area. The lowest of four hyaline spots is subrectangular and is much larger than the other spots. Two very small points of light lie in a slight arc above the largest spot. There is a fourth hyaline spot, larger than the two smallest points, just below the costa. The apex is more produced and the outer margin is more deeply concave than in the C. trifenestrata and C. bornea males, depicted on the same page. The male elaezia is also the largest of the three males (elaezia, bornea and trifenestrata) depicted.

The hindwing is similarly coloured. The am line is a straight, prominent dark bar that joins the dark, undulating, thinner pm line via a diffuse, wide grey bar below the costa. The single hyaline spot is medium sized and closer to the am line than it is to the pm line.

Cricula elaezia is neither depicted nor mentioned in Moths of Thailand. Cricula elaezia is not mentioned in Die Saturniidae der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia, Lampe, 1984; however, Nassig, in his commentary on that publication, indicates that the male depicted as item 1 (C. trifenestrata on Plate 8 is actually C. elaezia from Genting-Highlands, 1500m, June 1981. This male, like the male C. elaezia in d'Abrera, is larger than the C. trifenestrata on the same page, has a more produced apex with a more concave outer margin. The lowest of only two forewing hyaline areas is the largest. The second spot is just below the costa and the veins are dark and prominent.

A major difference, occurs, however, in the hindwings where there is no dark bar connecting the am and pm lines, which are actually relatively remote below the costa. The medium sized hyaline spot is midway between the am and pm lines.

Holloway shows males of C. trifenestrata (59mm) and C. elaezia (64mm) on Plate 10.Holloway reports, "Most material seen is from upper montane forest (G. Mulu, G. Kinabalu, Bukit Retak) from 1500-2600m; a single male was taken in the lowlands of Brunei." His image of elaezia is consistent regarding larger size, more produced apex, more concave outer margin, dark prominent wing veins, largest of two (visible) hyaline spots being the lowest one.

It is difficult to tell from the small image if the hindwing am and pm lines are connected via a dark diffuse bar. It appears they are not; however, Holloway writes, in "Bornean elaezia the two fasciae of the hindwing converge anteriorly just before the costa or are joined by a diffuse, dark bar at their nearest point" so he is aware of this character in his writing. Perhaps he is just indicating that the peninsular specimens lack the bar found on the Bornean specimens.

Ulrich Paukstadt depicts C. elaezia from West Malaysia, Cameron Highlands, Kampong Raja, ca. 1600m. The primary hyaline spot of the forewing is again large. One wing seems to lack additional points of light while the other forewing seems to have a smaller accessory spot near the costa.

The single medium sized hindwing hyaline spot is closer to the antemedial line than it is to the postmedial line.

Cricula cameronensis

Nassig writes "The taxon Cricula cameronensis was described as a subspecies of C. trifenestrata by U. & L.H. Paukstadt (1998). However, as the real C. trifenestrata with the typical black trifenestrata larvae (which are more easily distinguishable from cameronensis than the imagines) is also known from Peninsular Malaysia (larvae were found on several occasions in the Kuala Lumpur/Genting Highlands area, Nässig, Maschwitz et al. unpubl.), and, moreover, as there have been specimens with typical trifenestrata genitalia been collected also in the Cameron Highlands (Brinchang), we believe that cameronensis is not just a “mountain race” of trifenestrata but clearly a separate species. This is also supported by slight, but evidently constant differences in the male genitalia (being slightly larger and stronger sclerotized in cameronensis). Further studies would be necessary to assess this situation beyond doubt."

Cricula bornea

A Cricula bornea male is depicted at 51mm in Moths of Borneo and described as being "slightly smaller than trifenestrata and best distinguished by the asymmetry of the cornuti in the male genitalia, and differences in the processes of the juxta."

Its geographical range is Borneo with only two specimens seen, both taken in the lowlands.

This species was originally described as a subspecies of C. trifenestrata and appears to have the characters of that moth: very small point of light on the hindwing (slightly closer to pm line), small point of light on the forewing with an equally sized darker mark near the costa, terminal area in slight contrast to more uniform basal-medial area.

Holloway elevated it to full species status in 1981 based on examination of genitalia.

I do not think this moth is found on peninsular Malaysia and can therefore be ruled out in the specimens under question for Fraser's Hill.

Bernard d' Abrera depicts this moth (male wingspan: 55.6mm) from the Sabah, Tawau District of the island of Borneo. He also indicates it is smaller than nominate C. trifenestrata and can only be distinguished by examination of genitalia. I note the hindwing point of light is also closer to pm line than it is to am line on d' Abrera image.

Ulrich Paukstadt does not depict this moth, but gives its range as "East Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah)."

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