DISTRIBUTION:

Actias dubernardi (wingspan: males: about 92mm; females: larger) flies in Sichuan, Fujian, Hunan and Guangdong (GNNNR), China, and possibly in other provinces.

Franz Renner reports them from southern parts of Guangxi Province, Yulin, Kuishanding, at altitudes of 1100m, and also from southern Gangsu Province, Wenxien, Gunianshan, at altitudes of 3200m.

David Mohn reports a specimen taken in "Sichuan (East), Wuanyuan, Daba Mts. in China in September, 1998."

There are Actias dubernardi taken in Ha Giang, Vietnam, according to Raymond.

Actias dubernardi male, China, courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

Actias dubernardi female, China, (fw length 60mm), courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

Visit Actias dubernardi females, China, courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

Visit Actias dubernardi females, courtesy of Darrell Gulin.

Visit Actias dubernardi female, Yunnan, China, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Visit Actias dubernardi male, female, eggs, larvae and cocoon, China, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The preferred foodplant is Pinus massoniiana (Red pine).

Robert Zaun has had great success on an unusual host plant, Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), for Actias maenas and Actias dubernardi.

Actias dubernardi fifth instars on Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas Fir, courtesy of Robert Zaun.

The moth has been taken in Sichuan in September. There is also an earlier flight in July-August. I believe there is also a February-March flight. GNNNR reports March to April and July to August flights in the Nanling National Nature Reserve in Guangdong, China.

Jean Haxaire has reared them successfully on Pinus sylvestris.

Bob Vuattoux writes, "Actias dubernardi have eaten Picea glauca in my breedings in addition to Pinus sylvestris, Pinus contorta and Larix ssp. All these coniferous trees are equally good (big cocoons on each case)."

See Actias dubernardi articles (2005) in Members' Articles Section.

Actias dubernardi female, courtesy of Jean Haxaire copyright. Origin: Hunan, China;
Pupation: February 28; Eclosion: April 2; larva reared on Pinus sylvestris

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males fly in a zigzag pattern in the night sky in an effort to locate, with their highly developed antennae, the female pheromone plume.

Females have the traditional green colouration but tails are extremely long. The forewings of the female are also broader than those of the male.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Chris Conlan sent me the third and fourth instar images below.

Visit Actias dubernardi rearing notes, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Actias dubernardi, first instar, southern Gangsu, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Actias dubernardi, second instar, southern Gangsu, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Actias dubernardi fifth instar courtesy of Manel Moreno.

Actias dubernardi, 5th instar, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Actias dubernardi cocoon, courtesy of Rainer Plontke.

Visit Actias dubernardi fourth and fifth instars, courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

Visit Actias dubernardi fifth instar, courtesy of Uwe Kaus.

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.

Larix (FR) Picea glauca Pinus contorta Pinus massoniana Pinus sylvestris Pseudotsuga menziesii ......

Tamarack/Larch/Juniper White spruce Coast pine Red pine Scotch pine Douglas Fir (RZ)

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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 "dubernardi" is honourific for Dubernard.

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. There is an Asian species named Actias artemis.

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