DISTRIBUTION:

The Actias artemis yakushimaensis moth is found on the island of Yakushima, about 135 km south of Kagoshima City, Kyushu, which is part of "mainland" Japan.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in early August. I suspect there is also a May-June flight, but have no confirmation of same.

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

Actias artemis yakushimaensis, PT female, Yakushima Island, Japan,
August 8, 1972, courtesy of Vadim Zolotuhin.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use pectinate antennae to locate females which probably?? call at night.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

I suspect larvae are similar to Actias artemis artemis and Actias artemis aliana caterpillars, which are depicted on those files.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplants 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 "yakushimaensis" refers to Yakushima, an island south of mainland Japan.

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