DISTRIBUTION:

Cricula elaezia (wingspan: males: 63-67mm; females: ) flies in
Sumatra;
Jawa (Java): West Jawa Province, East Jawa Province; and
Sundaland:
Malaysia; and
Borneo in upper montane forests (G. Mulu, G. Kinabalu, Bukit Retak) from 1500-2600m; a single male (possibly C. elaezia buruensis was taken in the lowlands of Brunei.

Dr. Stefan Naumann indicates the Cricula eleazia females from Bali, Indonesia, are a dark ruby red.

Cricula elaezia female, Pahang, Malaysia, courtesy of Kelly Price, id by Bill Oehlke.

On Ulrich Paukstadt's website, March 14, 2009, a spread male (approximate wingspan 60mm) and a spread female (approximate wingspan 70mm) are depicted from West Malaysia, Cameron Highlands, Kampong Raja, 1600m.

Dorsally the male has a single, circular, relatively large hyaline spot on each forewing and a single, suboval, relatively large hyaline spot on each hindwing. The straight, dark, transverse postmedial line is preapical and divides an orangey-brown, generously suffused with grey, basal median area from a paler beige (also generously suffused with grey) terminal area. The forewing outer margin is moderately concave in its upper two-thirds and then straightens and rounds at the anal angle.

The hindwing shows a similar colour pattern but has a thick dark am line and a much thinner lighter, undulating pm line. In C. elaezia males, the hindwing am and pm lines remain distant as they approach the hindwng costa. The pm line is significantly closer to the outer margin than is the case with C. trifenestrata where the am and pm lines almost converge midway between the cell spot and the costa.

The ventral surface of the male forewing shows a second circular mark near the costa.

The female has a pointed forewing apex and a straight to slightly convex outer margin. A dark, preapical pm line is outwardly traced in light grey. The upper subterminal area is concolorous with a redder-orangey-brown basal median area, but there is a significant region of pinkish-grey-beige near the anal angle. The hindwing terminal area is similarly patterned. The straight dark hindwing am line is traced with pinkish-grey-beige on its inner side. The thin, undulating pm line and the am line remain distant as they approach the hindwing costa.

According to Wolfgang Nassig, Image #1 on Plate 8 in R. Lampe's 1984 Die Saturniidae der Cameron- and Genting-Highlands in West-Malaysia is incorrectly identified as c. trifenestrata; it should be C. elaezia.

The male depicted by Lampe from Genting-Highlands, 1500m, June 1981, matches my description above, except the Lampe image shows a dark mark just below the costa.

Cricula cameronensis/elaezia male, Frasers Hill, Malaysia,
February 26, 2009, courtesy of Preston Murphy, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

Cricula cameronensis/elaezia male, Frasers Hill, Malaysia,
February 26, 2009, courtesy of Preston Murphy, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Teemu Klemetti offers the following regarding flight on peninsular Malaysia: This species flies for the "whole period from the 8th of March unitl the 26th of May. Moths fly all night but peak around 10-11 pm and 1-3 am. Females fly around 8 pm."

Larvae will probably accept fruit tree foliage: apple, cherry, pear.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen to call in the night-flying males. Males use well-developed antennae to track the airbourne pheromone. Females tend to be more vibrant in their colouration and have less falcate forewings when compared to males.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Gary Saunders writes, March 14, 2010, "I have been rearing some Cricula elaezia. On April 26 Gary reports, based on eclosed adult moths, that the eggs were more likely those of Cricula cameronensis. I will move the larval images below and comments to C. cameronensis page.

"These larvae were reared on Rhododendron, but they were also eating Eucalyptus gunni and the nibbled at Quercus ilex. I am sure they would take to other Quercus species and almost certainly Liquidambar, but I won’t be able to prove this until later on, if I manage to breed them. If I do have any joy, I will try and obtain an egg shot and improved L1 picture also. The larvae are still growing at the moment so there may be another L5 shot to come along with photo of the cocoon. I will most certainly be obtaining the adult set as well.

"The rearing temperature was around 28-30°C in containers with high humidity. Oh, by the way, they sting! They have caught me a number of times whilst changing them on their final instar! I nearly threw the tub across my kitchen today as one caught me on the back of my finger! It really hurt!"

Cricula elaezia more likely C. cameronensis, first instars, courtesy of Gary Saunders

Cricula elaezia more likely C. cameronensis, second instars, courtesy of Gary Saunders

Cricula elaezia more likely C. cameronensis, third instars, courtesy of Gary Saunders

Cricula elaezia more likely C. cameronensis, fourth instars, courtesy of Gary Saunders

Cricula elaezia more likely C. cameronensis, fourth instars, courtesy of Gary Saunders

Cricula elaezia more likely C. cameronensis, fifth instars, courtesy of Gary Saunders

Cricula elaezia more likely C. cameronensis, fifth instar, courtesy of Gary Saunders

Larval Food Plants

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. Current list courtesy of Gary Saunders.

Eucalyptus gunnii ....... Liquidambar ?? Quercus ilex Rhododendron

Cider gum Sweetgum Holm Oak or Holly Oak Rhododendron

Return to Main Saturniidae Index

Return to Cricula Index