As of March 2005, I am not aware of any single publication that lists all the Chinese Saturniidae species with their respective ranges.

The checklists below will consist of interpolations/extrapolations and best guesses. The lists will undoubtedly have improper inclusions and many omissions, but over time should become quite accurate and helpful.

Fvery bit of information helps. If you 1) have specimens in collection with collecting data, 2) have publication information for described species, 3) have knowledge of collectors/suppliers who might be able to provide accurate information, please forward that information to Bill Oehlke

I have divided the country into three sections, western China, northeastern China and southeastern China.

For the province of Xizang, those species marked in red are from a list compiled by Wolfgang A. Nässig for Nepal. I do not know whether or not those species fly north of Nepal into southwestern China (Tibet). Probably some do and some don't.

Most of the north central provinces are high and dry.

Shaanxi Province's climate is temperate and semi-arid in the north and subtropical and humid in the south. Annual average temperature of Shaanxi is between 8C and 16C and its annual rainfall averages from 400 millimeters to 1000 millimeters. The winters are cold and summer is often rainy. Things are looking up for the Saturniidae.

Shanxi does not extend as far south and, being at a high altitude, Shanxi Province has a cold and dry climate and has an annual rainfall of between 400-600 millimeters. The province is also frequently plagued by sandstorms, especially in the spring. I do not expect there to be many Saturniidae there.

There is a dramatic increase in the northeastern "coastal" provinces with their more moderate climates.

Yunnan and Sichuan, followed by Guangdong, have the most diversified Saturniidae populations.

"Yunnan Province is a continuation of the Tibetan plateau, and occupies an area of 394,000 square kilometres, similar in size to the US State of Califonia. With the Himalayas dominating the north, and the equatorial tropics warming the southern areas, the features are diverse and spectacular. Yunnan shares a western border with Myanmar, and a southern border with Laos and Vietnam.

"Two geographically different region are divided by the Ai-lao Mountains: a limestone plateau to the east, and a mountainous area with serveral peaks above 5,000 metres, to the west. The highest point is the 6,740 metre Kagebo Peak on the Yunnan-Tibet border. The elevation of the eastern plateau varies from 2,130 metres its western end, to 1,370 metres on the Kweichow border, where intermontane basins and broad fertile valleys facilitate intensive farming.

"About 30 percent of the land area is forested, and is home to a large variety of flora and fauna.

Yunnan's varied and diverse climate means that, while Kunming enjoys pleasant spring-like weather for most of the year, the elevated eastern plateau experiences warm summers and mild winters, and the climate can change substantially during a journey of just a few kilometres. To the west, the valley floors and lower slopes of this mountainous area enjoy warm humid weather, while a temperate zone stands between 2,000 to 3,000 metres, and ice and snow envelop the high summits. Monsoons off the Pacific and Indian oceans provide adequate rainfall, with May through October the wettest months." It is not hard to understand why Yunnan has the highest number of reported species.

"Sichuan Province, located in southwest China, is one of the largest and most inaccessible provinces in the nation. This province covers an area of 485,000 kilometers (187,000 miles) and boasts the largest population in China, with 87 million people.

"Sichuan is bordered by the Tibetan Plateau in the west and by the Three Gorges and the Yangtze River in the east. The eastern part of the Sichuan basin is ringed by lofty mountains and experiences a subtropical and humid climate. The western part is considered the highland area and experiences frequent fog with intense sunlight, but low temperatures. The annual rainfall in this province is 1000 millimeters and the average annual temperature is 16.5C."

The diversified topography and warm conditions favour Saturniidae.

Chonqing is the largest and most populous of the People's Republic of China's four provincial-level municipalities, and the only one in the less densely populated western half of China. Formerly (until 14 March 1997) a provincial city within eastern Sichuan Province, the municipality of Chongqing has a registered population of 31,442,300 (2005). Weiwei Zhang collects in Chongqing and reports 23-24 species in that municipality.

"Guangdong has a subtropical climate. Summer can be sweltering hot and wet. Winters are warm. Typhoon hit this province frequently in summer and autumn.

"Annual rainfall averages nearly 1500-2000 millimeters and annual temperature averages 19C - 26C.

The whole province is green all the year round and is seething with life everywhere. It favours the tropical Saturniidae species.

Taiwan has its own special climate and reports some species and subspecies, which may or may not be valid, not reported elsewhere. Peigler equates Attacus atlas formosanus with the nominate species.

AT = Andrey Timchenko
AVV = Alan van Vaive
BJ = Beijing Bug
BL = Butterfly Lepidoptera
CP = Clive Pratt
EVS = Eric van Schayck
IS = Insect Trade
JH = Jean Haxaire
ML = Michel Lapointe
RB = Ronald Brechlin
RK = Roger Kendrick
RP = Richard Peigler
RR = Rodolphe Rougerie
RW = Robert Westphal
SN = Stefan Naumann
SO = Shin-ichi Osama
TK = Teemu Klemetti
TP = Tony Pittaway
UP = Ulrich Paukstadt
WH = Wayne Hsu
WN = Wolfgang Nassig
WO = William Oehlke
WZ = Weiwei Zhang

** = FSI, for not previously listed; other initials followed by * indicate I feel the species is present although not listed in FSI = Fauna Sinica Insect Vol. 5 Insecta

The FSI plates are available online at http://monkey.ioz.ac.cn/fauna/fauna/kunchong/19.html with plates 4-12 depicting Saturniidae. FSI does not always use the same Chinese characters in the text as it does on the plates and tables, but the volume is a great start for the fauna of China. Several newly described species, not included in the text (1996), are reported above.