DISTRIBUTION:

Salassa viridis (forewing length: males: 56-67mm; females: 67mm) flies in China: Guizhou Province, near Zunyin, Tongzhi, Loushanguan, and in Chongqing.

The male ground color is orange brown with greenish yellow scaling giving the appearance of a greenish shimmer.

The forewing apex is not produced and the outer margin is straight. The large hyaline areas, thinly outlined in black, are a translucent green, almost heart shaped, with a black area in the "cleavage". There is a bright orange area from the ocellus to pmline. The basal region and the thorax are also more bright orange than other areas.

Salassa viridis male (verso), courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

The underside is dark gray-brown with white scaling in the basal and medium areas, and very brightl reddish-gray-brown in the internal share of the postal service medium area.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in April to mid May, and possibly in other months.

Larvae will accept Liquidambar styraciflua and Rhamnus frangula.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

The female ground color is greenish gray, with intensive orange around the large greenish hyaline area of the forewing, particularly between the cell and the pmline.

Note the yellowish hairs along the ventral inner margin.

Salassa viridis female, 123mm, courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

Salassa viridis female (verso), 123mm, courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae spin loose cocoons near the ground amongst loose debris.

Salassa viridis first instar, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa viridis second instar, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa viridis third instar, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa viridis third instar, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa viridis fourth instar, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa viridis fifth instar, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa viridis male pupa, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

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.

Liquidambar styraciflua ....... Rhamnus frangula

Sweetgum Glossy Buckthorn/Alder Buckthorn

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The species name "viridis" is for the greenish-yellow cast.

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The European Entomologist, Vol. 2, No. 3{4}, pp 93-122, on my home computer only.