The specimen above had significant oil/grease stains on the anal angle of each forewing and to a lesser but more consistent degree on the hindwings. There may also have been considerable fading, but the literature mentions the name luteofrithi signifies the overall yellow appearance of this species. I have come to understand that one man's yellow is another man's orange. It would be nice to have a fresh live specimen for comparison.

Antheraea luteofrithi HT male (verso), 126mm, Di Linh Mt., Lam Dong, Vietnam,
April 2014, 900m, courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Genus: Antheraea, Hubner, 1819

DISTRIBUTION:

Antheraea luteofrithi (wingspan: males: 126mm; females: 145-155mm // mfwl: 66-70mm; ffwl: 72-79mm) flies in
Vietnam: Lam Dong Prov: Di Linh Mt., Bao Lam, Dambri; Gia Lai Prov.: Kon Ka Kinh N.P.; Kon Tum Prov., Ngoc Hoi; Quang Ngai Prov.: Bato Mts.;, Quang Nam Prov.: Tay Giang Mt. Thua Thien Hue Prov.: Bach Ma Mt.; Quang Ngai Prov., Bato Mt.; all at elevations from 900-1400m.

A. luteofrithi n. sp. is a close relative of the subhimalayan A. frithi Moore, 1859 (variability, preimaginals and ? genitalia shown in Peigler & Naumann 2016) and the Vietnamese A. tonkinensis Bouvier, 1936. It differs from A. frithi by the less developed markings overall, the missing yellow circle just beyond the black outer ring of both Fw. and Hw. ocellus, and details in ? genitalia; A. tonkinensis is of deeper orange and brown colour in ?? with an olive shade overall, and shows also differences in ? genitalia structures; all three taxa are separated by the results of DNA barcoding (COI marker gene). At least within the Vietnamese Quang Ngai Province both species, tonkinesis and luteofrithi, occur syntopically.

Antheraea luteofrithi PT male (grey-brown form), Vietnam,
courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

Antheraea luteofrithi PT male (verso-grey-brown form), Vietnam,
courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

Even though there are at least a couple of features besides colour that make the yellow and the grey-brown male forms of this species seem different, DNA analysis indicates they are the same species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in February-March-April-May-June-July-August-September-October. There are probably additional flight months. Host plants are unknown as of this writing.

Antheraea luteofrithi AT female, 145mm, Ngoc Hoi, Kon Tum, Vietnam,
July, 2015, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Antheraea luteofrithi AT female (verso), 145mm, Ngoc Hoi, Kon Tum, Vietnam,
July, 2015, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of their abdomens to "call" the males. Males use their antennae to hone in on the airbourne pheromone.

OVA, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE: