DISTRIBUTION:

The rare Attacus inopinatus moth flies on the island of Flores in Indonesia at altitudes of 600-1820m.

Males have reduced fenestrae, but those of the females are large.

There is no white streak on the inner side of the eyespot; the submarginal lines are black on all wings.

Attacus inopinatus courtesy of Teemu Klemetti.

Based on recent (2010) DNA barcode analysis, Attacus soembanus, Sumba Island, Indonesia, is no longer a synonym of A. inopinatus. Attacus paukstadtorum from Lombok and Sumbawa islands, Indonesia, is distinguished from A. inopinatus as a full species.

Sumbawa is an Indonesian island, located in the middle of the Lesser Sunda Islands chain, with Lombok to the west, Flores (Attacus inopinatus) to the east, and Sumba (Attacus soembanus) further to the southeast. It is in the province of West Nusa Tenggara.

Geography and subtle shape, size and location differences in the forewing fenestrae help to distinguish these species. The hindwing pm line in A. soembanus is quite straight compared to the more S-shaped lines in A. paukstadtorum and A. inopinatus.

Attacus inopinatus male, Flores,
courtesy of Andreas Riekert, Germany

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Attacus inopinatus probably broods continuously with records of adults on the wing for January to March, May, July, and September to December.

Attacus inopinatus male, Indonesia,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Host plants on which cocoons are found include the following: Avocado (Persea americana) and Kayu Rukus (a still not identified forest tree). Larvae may be polyphagus and probably also feed on Nauclea orientalis (Rubiaceae), guyabano, "atis" (custard apple) (Annonaceae), Sandoricum koetjape (santol), "banaba" (Tagalog name) and Hibiscus sp. Ligustrum would be a good choice for captive rearing out of natural range..

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in night-flying males. Moths are acttive from 10:00 pm until 1:00 am with peak activity between 11:00 and midnight.

Attacus inopinatus female, Flores,
courtesy of Andreas Reikert, Germany

Attacus inopinatus female, Indonesia,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Ulrich Paukstadt's description of eggs and larvae:

"Description of the pre-imaginal instars:

Egg whitish colored, length approximately 2.7 mm, width 2.3 mm and height 2.1 mm.

1st instar larva ground coloration white with two black stripes around each segment. Segments mostly with six fleshy scoli, two dorsal scoli and each side one subdorsal and one subspiracular scolus. Scoli mostly colored as body, each scolus with spines at apex. Subspiracular scoli of prothorax, subdorsal scoli of 9th abdominal segment and two long anal scoli gray with plenty of spines (compared to other scoli the number of spines is doubly). Head and thoracic legs black, prolegs and anal prolegs colored as body.

Attacus inopinatus first instar, courtesy of Ulrich and Laela Paukstadt.

2nd instar larva ground coloration white or yellowish. Lateral orange blotches on 1st abdominal segment present. Head, thoracic legs and some subspiracular scoli black colored. Straight scoli and body covered with whitish powder (wax).

Attacus inopinatus second instar, courtesy of Ulrich and Laela Paukstadt.

3rd instar larva ground coloration greenish. Orange blotches only on 1st abdominal segment present. Dorsal and subdorsal scoli of meso- and metathorax yellow colored with white tip. Some subspiracular scoli black colored.

Attacus inopinatus third instar, courtesy of Ulrich and Laela Paukstadt.

4th instar larva waxy powder reduced. Anal scoli reduced, dorsal and subdorsal scoli of meso- and metathorax yellow colored with white tip. Anal prolegs black, ventrally with a pink line.

Attacus inopinatus fourth instar, courtesy of Ulrich and Laela Paukstadt.

5th instar larva thoracic scoli and subdorsal scoli of 8th abdominal segment reduced. Dorsal and subdorsal scoli of meso- and metathorax yellow. Scoli on meso- and metathorax and anal scoli (partly?) transformed to defensive glands. Waxy powder much reduced. Patch on the outside of each hindmost proleg blackbrown, ventral orange bordered.

Attacus inopinatus fifth instar, courtesy of Ulrich and Laela Paukstadt.

6th instar larva ground coloration lateral and ventral green, dorsal pale green. Defensive glands on meso- and metathorax orange colored, subspiracular scoli blue, all other scoli colored as body. Spiracles white, brown bordered. The patch on the outside of each anal proleg is fully dark purple, ventral rose bordered.

Attacus inopinatus sixth instar, courtesy of Ulrich and Laela Paukstadt.

Pupa ground coloration redbrown, length approximately 45-55 mm. Length and largest width of the antennal covers in the male pupa 25/13 mm and in the female pupa 21/7 mm."

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.

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