DISTRIBUTION:

Salassa iris (wingspan: males: 118-132mm; females: 120-135mm) flies in
northeastern India: Nagaland (Assam); and
southern China: western Yunnan (4000m), and
possibly in Bhutan ??.

Salassa iris female, courtesy of Steve Kohll,
via eggs supplied by Viktor Sinyaev.

The male forewing apex is slightly produced and tapers to a somewhat rounded "point". The basal area is orange to yellowish orange with a light suffusion of grey scales. The diffuse greyish antemedial line is convex and slightly irregular. The median area is evenly orange with a heavier suffusion of dark scales, except for a clearer area (not present in female) between the cell and the convex, irregular greyish postmedial line. The pml is more markedly convex in its upper half where it is outwardly traced with a thin but clear bright orange (male), yellow (female) band. In its lower half it is marked by a series of white dots between the veins.

A wide, diffuse-grey, concave, irregular subterminal line evenly splits the terminal area with the inner half grey, flaring to the pml, and the outer half more towards dull orange. The outer margin is slightly concave to straight and may be quite oblique; (slightly convex in female).

There is an offwhite/beige patch with some grey highlites along the costa from the middle of the terminal area to the apex.

The hindwing ocellus is relatively small. (description by Bill Oehlke, based on specimens displayed and on home computer)

This species is very close to Salassa fansipana. More material needs to be studied.

Salassa iris male (verso), courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris female (verso), courtesy of Stefan Naumann

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I believe there is a February flight. Moths may be on the wing at other times. Salassa iris feeds on Prunus species.

Steve Kohll writes, "I send you today pictures of Salassa iris, male and female, obtained from eggs which were sent to me by Victor Sinjaev last year. The caterpillars were reared on Prunus padus and Pyracantha coccinea, a very difficult breeding, like with all species of this genus. Larval pictures will follow soon."

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae spin loose cocoons near the ground amongst loose debris.

Salassa iris first instar, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris second instar, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris second instar, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris third instar, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris fourth instar, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris fourth instar, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris fifth instar, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris fifth instar, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris male pupa, rearing by Steve Kohll, courtesy of Stefan Naumann

Salassa iris female pupa, rearing by Steve Kohll, 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.

Prunus padus Pyracantha coccinea .......

Cherry Firethorn

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Salassa iris male, Nagaland, India, 132mm,
on my home computer only.

Salassa iris male, Wubaoshan, Yunlong, Yunnan, China, 118mm, 4000m, February
on my home computer only.

Salassa iris female, 120mm, on my home computer only.

On my home computer only: notes on Saturniidae of Bhutan by Ronald Brechlin (in English) as published in Entomo-Satsphingia 2 (1): 47 – 55 (March 2009)