Actias artemis aliena
AKT-ee-uhsMAR-teh-muhsMail-lee-EN-uh
(Butler, 1879)

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Genus: Actias, Leach, 1815

MIDI MUSIC "Moon River" copyright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Actias artemis aliena is found in Japan and parts of Asia (China: possibly Shanxi and Shandong).

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The preferred foodplant of this moon moth is walnut, but artemis aliena also accepts cherry, oak, beech, and hickory.

Actias artemis aliena female, Japan courtesy of Sune Hauch.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use pectinate antennae to locate scenting females at night. Mating occurs after 10:30 pm and the pair remain coupled until the following evening.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are medium-sized round, flattened spheres. Basic colouration is white, but black/brown mottling is extensive.

Larvae are pale green and, in later instars, resemble Antheraea polyphemus somewhat with their brown heads. Larvae do well on cut food, provided it is fresh. Cherry stems keep extremely well if cut ends are kept wet (submerged or wrapped in moist towelling). Cocoons are papery and usually wrapped in a leaf which falls to the ground in the fall.

The following larval images are courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Livestock is from Ohuchbuchi, Sekikawa Village, Niigata, Japan.

Actias artemis aliena, first instar on Juglans, Japan.

Actias artemis aliena, first instar, preparing to moult, Japan.

Actias artemis aliena, second instar on Juglans, Japan.

Actias artemis aliena, third instar on Juglans, Japan.

Actias artemis aliena, fourth instar on Juglans, Japan.

Actias artemis aliena, fifth instar on Juglans, Japan.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Acer Alnus firma Betula platyphylla Carya Castanea mollissima Fagus crenata Ilex verticillata Juglans regia Prunus armeniaca Prunus virginiana Prunus pseudo-cerasus..... Punica Pyrus malus Pyrus communis Quercus Rosa Salix

Maple Alder Japanese white birch Hickory Chinese chestnut Japanese beech Black alder English walnut Domestic plum Chokecherry Cherry Pomegranate Apple Pear Oak Rose Willow

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

The species name "artemis" is a feminine name from Greek mythology.

The genus name, Actias, probably comes from the Greek Actaeon, who is the hunter who had the misfortune of being torn to pieces by his own dogs after accidentally encountering the naked goddess Artemis. To punish him, Artemis splashed water on Actaeon and turned him into a stag.

The subspecies name "aliena" means foreign or estranged or beautiful.