Loepa kuangdongensis
Mell, 1938

Loepa kuangdongensis female, copyright protected, courtesy of Alan Marson.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Genus: Loepa, Moore, 1860

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DISTRIBUTION:

Loepa kuangdongensis flies in
southern China: Guangdong (GNNNR);
probably Hong Kong; and
Vietnam.

Roger Kendrick writes, "Loepa kuangdongensis is identical to those for Guangdong Province and the two Hong Kong records, with small eyespots and f/w basal fascia red, narrow and almost perpendicular to the dorsum." Image from Zabokrtsky on Insectnet.

Loepa kuangdongensis female, copyright protected, courtesy of Alan Marson.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect this species has multiple broods. Cissus, grape and Virginia creeper would likely prove to be suitable hosts.

Alan Marson indicates this moth probably has multiple broods and the fall brood may produce eggs that overwinter??

Only a June flight is documented in GNNNR for Guangdong, China.

Franz Renner writes, " For Loepa kuangdongensis, the best foodplant is Parthenocissus; some larvae eat also Vitis (= Grape), but I think Vitis is not a good foodplant."

Loepa kuangdongensis male, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Loepa kuangdongensis male, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Loepa kuangdongensis female, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Loepa kuangdongensis male, id by Stephan Naumann.

Loepa kuangdongensis male, 84mm, China, courtesy of Kelly Price,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, might be L. diversiocellata??

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call at night. Males fly into the wind and track the pheromone plume with their sophisticated antennae.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Early instar larvae make one wonder, "Are these young caterpillars or baby dragons?" Images courtesy of Alan Marson.

Cocoons are affixed to twigs lengthwise as per Hyalophora cecropia.

Loepa kuangdongensis cocoon, copyright protected, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Loepa kuangdongensis cocoons, copyright protected, courtesy of Alan Marson.

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.

Parthenocissus..... Vitis

Woodbine Grape

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