Actias artemis
AKT-ee-uhsmmAR-teh-muhs
(Bremer and Grey, 1864)

Actias artemis (male) from Leroy Simon

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, the Japanese Moon Moth, (forewing length: males: 28.65mm; females: 30.5mm) is found in Japan, Korea, northeastern China (Heilongjiang, Jilin and other northeastern provinces) and other parts of Asia, including the Russian Far East and Primorye.

Specimens from Siberia are probably Actias sjoeqvisti.

Visit Actias artemis male, female and instars 3, 4 and 5, Japan, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The preferred foodplant is walnut, but Actias artemis also accepts cherry, oak, beech, and hickory. Larry Silenius has had success rearing them on black walnut (Juglans nigra).

Moths are on the wing in May and June with a partial second brood in August if the weather has been warm. early, warm springs result in a double brood.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

This species has shorter tails than the other Actias members. The tails are especially truncated in the females (to the right) and turn out straight to the sides when wings are open and spread. Males use quadripectinate antennae to locate scenting females at night. Mating occurs after 10:30 pm and the pair remain coupled until the following evening. Others report pairings are sometimes brief, lasting only a couple of hours.

Actias artemis female.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are medium-sized round, flattened spheres. Basis colouration is white, but black/brown mottling is extensive. Misting of eggs is recommended, but they should not lie in water. A damp piece of crumple paper towelling can also be used to provide high humidity.

Larvae are pale green and almost identical to Actias selene, although a little smaller than selene. 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). Photo courtesy of Leroy Simon. This species also does well on cut food in sealed containers. They like it warm.

Cocoons are brown and papery and usually wrapped in a leaf which falls to the ground with leaf drop in the fall.

Actias artemis artemis (female), Russland, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.
http://www.saturniidae-mundi.de/Oschayck/schayck.htm

Actias artemis first instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Actias artemis third instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Actias artemis fourth instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

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 nigra (LS) 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 Black Walnut 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.