DISTRIBUTION:

Lemaireia mediovietnama (wingspan: males: ?; females: 73mm // mfwl: ??; ffwl: 40mm) flies in
central Vietnam: Ha Tinh Province: Huong Son District: Vu Quang NP, at elevations near 900m..

As of January 1, 2019, there are ten Lemaireia species/subspecies that are recognized by science. Two of those species, loepoides and schintlmeisteri from the loepoides group, are distinct from each other and distinct from the other eight species/subspecies in the chrysopeplus group to which Lemaireia naessigi belongs. It is almost impossible to distinguish the species in the chrysopeplus group by outward appearance; almost always examination of genitalia or DNA barcoding is needed for a confident identification.

Although there is possibly some overlap in ranges of the chrysopeplus group members, location can greatly reduce some of the confusion. Below is a listing of the chrysopeplus group members from east to west, north to south in their respective known ranges.

Lemaireia luteopeplus luteopeplus northeastern India: Assam and possibly northern Mayanmar;
Lemaireia naessigi central to southeastern Mayanmar and central western Thailand;
Lemaireia luteopeplus aureopeplus possibly Myanmar, northern Thailand, China: Yunnan; Guangdong; probably Guangxi; northern Laos; northern Vietnam: Lao Cai: Sapa: Mount Fansipan;
Lemaireia mediovietnama central Vietnam: Ha Tinh Province: Huong Son District: Vu Quang NP, at elevations near 900m.;
Lemaireia inexpectata southern Vietnam: Lam Dong Province: Bao Loc: Rung Cat Tien;
Lemaireia hainana China: Hainan;
Lemaireia jaegeri northern Sumatra: Aceh;
Lemaireia chrysopeplus Java; possibly Sumatra: Aceh. I think those specimens described from northern Sumatra are most likely L. jaegeri.

Morphologically it can be separated from its probably closest relative, L. inexpectata from southern Vietnam, by its smaller size, less acute Fw. apex, smaller Hw. ocellus, a higher percentage of dark pattern elements of the Fw, and a row each of large orange brown spots and black dots in the Hw. postmedian area. Specimens of L. hainana are of much paler yellow colour and larger size." Good luck!

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

On record, a single female specimen has been taken in March. Thus far foodplants are unknown.

Lemaireia mediovietnama HT female (verso), Vu Quang NP, Huong Son District, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam,
73mm, March 2014, 900m courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males are unknown as of this writing.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs and immatures are unknown as of this writing.

The species name mediovietnama is indicative of a specimen type location in central Vietnam.

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.

Return to Main Saturniidae Index

Return to Lemaireia Index