Archaeoattacus vietnamensis
Stefan Naumann, Rodolphe Rougerie and Wolfgang A. Nässig, 2016

Archaeoattacus vietnamensis male, Biodub Nui Ba NP, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam,
Biodub Nui Ba National Park, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, website.

Archaeoattacus vietnamensis male, Di Linh, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam,
April 2015, on my home computer only.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Attacini, Blanchard, 1840 Genus: Archaeoattacus, Watson, 1914

MIDI MUSIC "Asian Spring Blossoms" ON.OFF <bgsound src="AsianSpringBlossoms.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Archaeoattacus vietnamensis (forewing length: males: 105-115mm; females: 112-117mm) flies in
southern Vietnam: Lam Dong Province: Di Linh, and Bidoup Nui Ba Nat. Park, Lac Duong, and Bhu Son, Lam Ha, and Gebirgspaß Phu Mi and Biodub Nui Ba NP; Khanh Hoa Province: Nui Ba N.P., Bidoup Mt.; Quang Ngai Province: Bato Mt.; Quang Nam Province: Plato Tay Nguyen: Mt. Ngoc Linh; and Da Nang Province: Ba Na Mt.; at elevations of 850-1600m.

DNA barcoding analysis (2016) reveals this is a new species separate from A. malayanus whose range includes Yunnan, China; Kachin, Myanmar; Chiangmai, Thailand; northern Vietnam; southern Laos.

A. staudingeri is reported from Indonesian Borneo: Kalimantan Tengah, and Malaysian Borneo: Sabah; Indonesia: East Java and Java and Sumatera Barat; Samatra; and A. edwardsii is reported from northern India and Bhutan, and possibly in Nepal and Himalayan Tibet.

Archaeoattacus vietnamensis is more colourful with more contrast (orange brown contrast with very dark brown in basal median areas) than is found in A. edwardsii (almost exclusively very dark brown in basal median areas). A. vietnamensis always has a rounded costal margin of a wider forewing fenestra (hyaline area). In other species this marking is narrower and more angular on its costal side.

Archaeoattacus vietnamensis male (verso), Di Linh, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam,
April 2015, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in February-March-April-May and July-August, suggesting at least two or three broods annually. Possibly this species broods continuously. As of May, 2016, I do not have any verified foodplants.

Archaeoattacus vietnamensis AT female, Di Linh, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam,
April 2015, on my home computer only.

Archaeoattacus vietnamensis AT female (verso), Di Linh, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam,
April 2015, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in night-flying males.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Ailanthus altissima...... Ilex chinensis Ligustrum Populus Prunus Salix Syringa vulgaris

Ailanthus Kashi holly Privet Poplar Cherry Willow Lilac

Return to Main Index

Return to Archaeoattacus genus

Support this website and visit other insect sites by clicking flashing butterfly links to left or right.

On my home computer only: Archaeoattacus vietnamensis original description.