DISTRIBUTION:

Attacus paukstadtorum (forewing length: males: 96-106mm; females: unknown) flies in
Indonesia: Lombok at altitudes 350-400m; and Sumbawa at altitudes of 40-1200m.

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

Outer margins seem slightly crenulate, more so than in the slightly smaller Attacus inopinatus from Flores.

The species name is honourific for Laela Paukstadt and Ulrich Paukstadt. Originally Laela and Ulrich had equated this moth with Attacus inopinatus. DNA barcoding analysis indicates it is a separate species, with overall size differences, and slightly different shapes to the fenestrae of the males, compared to inopinatus from Flores.

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 paukstadtorum) 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.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Attacus paukstadtorum probably broods continuously with records of adults on the wing for October-November-December-January-February-March-April, June.

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..

Attacus ?? paukstadtorum ?? female,
very tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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 paukstadtorum 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 paukstadtorum 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 paukstadtorum 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 paukstadtorum 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 paukstadtorum 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 paukstadtorum 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.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Attacus genus

Goto Asian Pacific Saturniidae Directory

Goto Main Saturniidae Index