DISTRIBUTION:

Actias laovieta, (wingspan: males: 125-137mm; females: approx. 150mm // mfwl: 69-76mm; ffwl: 80-83mm), flies in
southern Vietnam: Lam Dong: Lam Ha, 970m (HT) - 1320m; Thua Thien Hu: Bach Ma Mt.;
southern Laos: Xekong: Ho Chi Minh Trail; Attapu Prov: Annam Highlands Dong Amphan, 1150m; Champasak Prov.: Boliven Plateau, 520m; at elevations of 520-1320m

This species is externally quite similar to the Chinese and northern Vietnamese A. ningpoana C. & R. Felder, 1862, and the subhimalayan A. selene (Hübner, “1806”[1807]).

There are real differences from the aforementioned species in both genitalia and DNA barcoding results.

Actias laovieta HT male (verso), Lam Ha, Lam Dong Prov., Vietnam,
135mm, August 15, 2004, 970m, courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in March-April-May, July-August-September. There may be additioanl flight months.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the base of the abdomen to call in slightly smaller, but more brightly coloured, night-flying males. After mating, females, which have much less falcate wings, deposit 250-300 ova in small groups on host plants.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are anticipated food plants. Natural host and larvae are unknown. 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.

Alnus glutinosa Andromeda glaucophylla Andromeda ovalifolia Azadiracta indica Castanea Cedrala paniculata Cinnamomum camphora Corylus colurna Crataegus Hibiscus Juglans regia Lannea coromandelica Lawsonia alba Ligustrum Liquidambar styraciflua Mangifera Moringa oleifera Prunus amygdalus Prunus cerasus Prunus padus Prunus serotina (TJ) Pyracantha (MJC) Pyrus malus Quercus Rhododendron Rhamnus frangula Rhus laurina Salix babylonica Sapium sebiferum Syringa vulgaris Terminalia Zanthoxylum acanthopodium...... Zanthoxylum alatum

European/Black alder Downy bog-rosemary Bog-rosemary Persian lilac Chestnut Cedro/Spanish cedar Camphor Turkish hazel Hawthorn Mallow English walnut Lannea Indian privet privet Sweetgum Mango Horse-radish tree Almond Sour cherry Bird cherry Wild Black Cherry Firethorn Apple Oak Azalea Alder buckthorn Laurel sumac Weeping willow Chinese tallow-tree Lilac Assegai wood Prickly ash Prickly ash

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