Loepa sikkima javanica

Updated as per personal communication (Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, 80mm wingspan; probably not javanica), Kelly Price, December 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Marc Fischer (Parthenocissus, larval images; probably not javanica); June 2009

Loepa sikkima javanica
(Mell, 1938)

Loepa javanica male, 105mm???, Mt. Halimun, West Jawa,
1050m, courtesy of Ulrich Paukstadt.

Possibly the 105mm male is either L. cynopsis or L. megacore.
Loepa javanica male, 75mm, Java,
on my home computer only.

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

MIDI MUSIC

"Asian Spring Blossoms"

ON.OFF

DISTRIBUTION:
Loepa javanica (wingspan: males: approximately 75-107mm??; females: larger // forewing length: males: 38-42; females: larger) flies in
Borneo, Malaysia: Cameron Highlands; and
Sumatra and
Jawa (Java): West Jawa Province: Mt. Halimun env., 1050 m; East Jawa Province.
Roger Kendrick writes, "Loepa sikkima javanica is very similar to those from Hong Kong, with broad pink and red basal f/w fascia that turns towards the wing base on the dorsal third of the wing."

Image (Sabah) from Zabokrtsky on Insectnet.
I am pretty sure this moth now has full species status as Loepa javanica.

L. javanica is probably limited to Java (Jawa) and Sumatra. The other specimens on this page are likely of one or more of the more recently described species from Malaysia. I will soon be moving them to new files.

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.
Loepa sikkima javanica male

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae, typical of Loepa, are dark with lighter triangular patches on the sides.

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 (MF) .......

Parthenocissus

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Loepa sikkima javanica (Mell, 1938)

Loepa javanica male, 105mm???, Mt. Halimun, West Jawa, 1050m, courtesy of Ulrich Paukstadt.

TAXONOMY:

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

MIDI MUSIC "Asian Spring Blossoms" ON.OFF<bgsound src="AsianSpringBlossoms.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

"Asian Spring Blossoms"

ON.OFF<bgsound src="AsianSpringBlossoms.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

L. javanica is probably limited to Java (Jawa) and Sumatra. The other specimens on this page are likely of one or more of the more recently described species from Malaysia. I will soon be moving them to new files.

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. Loepa sikkima javanica male

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae, typical of Loepa, are dark with lighter triangular patches on the sides. Larval Food Plants

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 (MF) ....... Parthenocissus

Parthenocissus (MF) .......

Parthenocissus

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page. Return to Loepa Index Goto Asian Pacific Saturniidae Directory Goto Main Saturniidae Index