DISTRIBUTION:

Samia abrerai (wingspan: 150-160 mm; forewing length: 65-76mm) flies in Jawa: West Jawa Province and East Jawa Province: Mt. Argopuro; in Indonesia.

It is endemic of Java and Lesser Sunda Islands: Bali.

Postmedial lines are broad and curved with extensive pinkish-white scaling outside the rose line, accentuating the veins. The basic ground colour is dark olive brown.

Crescents are longer and broader than those of look-a-like S. insularis.

There is black scaling on the facing sides of the antemedial and postmedial lines. The eyespots are also traced with black on the top halves.

The name is given to honour Bernard D'Abrera.

Samia abrerai male, verso, Mother Temple of Besikah, Mount Agung, eastern Bali,
October 4, 2009, courtesy of Meg Williams, id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae probably feed on Persea americana in the wild and accept Ligustrum ovalifolium in captivity.

This species probably broods continuously with specimens taken in all months except February.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the night-flying males with an airbourne pheromone released from the tip of the abdomen.

Samia abrerai female.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Mature larvae resemble those of other Samia species, being covered with a fine white powder and having fleshy protuberances. Black specks cover the white skin; the head is yellow, as are the prolegs, anal prolegs and anal plate.

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.

Ligustrum ovalifolium........ Persea americana

California privet Avocado

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