"A. rosemariae has been reared in Germany under laboratory conditions using Himalaya birch (Betula utilis) and
oak (Quercus sp.) as hostplants. The larvae were kept at temperatures ranging from between 24 grad and 28 grad centigrade and a very
high humidity of approximately 100 per cent.
The larva of A. rosemariae fits very well into the helferi-group of the genus Antheraea Hübner, 1819 ("1816").
Description of the preimaginal instars.
Ovum ocre with grayish brown marmoration. 2.6 by 2.4 by 1.7 mm,
thickness of the chorion 0.05 mm.
1st instar larva ground coloration yellowish. On abdominal segments a broad black basal line, middorsally and subdorsally thin brown lines.
A yellowish white line above lowermost row of scoli. Head, prothoracic shield and legs glossy black; prothorax dorsally white between
prothoracic shield and head. Scoli mostly in six longitudinal rows with spines at apex, but thoracic segments each eight (dorsal and
subdorsal scoli of prothorax fused with separated tips), 8th abdominal segment fife (scoli middorsally fused but with separated tips), 9th
abdominal segment four, and caudal end of anal plate two scoli. Dorsal scoli on metathorax and middorsal scolus on 8th abdominal segment
dark reddish brown or black; metathorax dorsally with a black transverse stripe connecting bases of scoli, 8th abdominal segment
dorsally with a black dot.
2nd instar larva ground coloration yellowish green. Scoli mostly pink with spines at apex. Head, legs, prolegs, and anal prolegs ocre.
Spiracles brownish orange, white bordered. Dorsal scoli of meso- and metathorax, basal scoli of 9th abdominal segment and middorsal scolus
of 8th abdominal segment larger than other scoli. Cuticle covered with short white club-shaped hairs.
3rd instar larva pale green with a yellow and a dark green lateral stripe on abdominal segments. Spiracles reddish, middorsal long
scolus on 8th abdominal segment with two well separated reddish brown tips. Dorsal scoli on thoracic segments still present, all other
scoli mostly much reduced, as well as its spines at apex. Scoli mostly with each one long dark brown hair. Cuticle covered with
numerous club-shaped short white hairs. 2nd till 6th abdominal segments dorsally with each one transverse row of longer club-shaped
hairs, facing cephally.
4th instar larva much different from previous instar and all other known Antheraea. Ground coloration and head pale green, basal with a
green and a yellowish line on abdominal segments. Ventrally a reddish line present. Border of anal plate and anal prolegs dark brown with
club-shaped yellowish hairs. Spiracles dark red or orange. Scoli mostly much reduced with each one long brown hair at apex. The larva
is now covered with long white hairs instead of club-shaped short hairs. Each one row of longer white hairs dorsally on abdominal
segments present, facing cephally.
5th instar larva as in previous instar, but all long white setae slightly reduced.
6th instar larva variable yellowish green or bluish green with an interrupted broad yellowish basal line on abdominal segments.
Head and prothoracic shield pale bluish green, spiracles dark red, white bordered. All scoli fully reduced. The white hairs are reduced
in length, lateral and ventral hairs irregular, dorsal hairs mainly upright, transverse rows of longer hairs facing cephally as in
previous instar. The adult larva is 11 cm long.
Pupa in the male reddish brown, abdominal segments ventral ocre, length/width 4 by 1.8 cm, antennal covers length/width 14 by 8 mm.
Female pupa dark brown, ventrally with ocre colored transverse lines at abdominal segments, 4.5 by 2 cm, antennal covers 16 by 7 mm.
Cocoon double-walled, ca. 5.5 by 3 cm. Outer light yellow layer loose silk, bent into leaves; inner yellowish white layer
cross-sectional view oval. No preformed opening at cephal end present." Ulrich Paukstadt
