Salassa meisteri
Brechlin & Meister, 2010

Salassa meisteri ?? male, Chukkha, Bhutan,
May 10, 2013, 2100m, courtesy of Sonam Dorji, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Salassa meisteri male, 108mm, central Bhutan,
on my home computer only.

The male depicted top of page is a close match for Salassa meisteri as well as for Salassa hauensteini. It could be either. The specimen might be something as yet undescribed. It could also be lola or kitchingi, but I (Bill Oehlke) favour S. meisteri.

Superfamily: Bombycoidea Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Salassinae Michener, 1949 Genus: Salassa Moore, 1859

MIDI MUSIC "Moon River" copyright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION: Salassa meisteri (wingspan: males: 108mm; females: 94mm // Mfwl: 50-57mm; Ffwl: 51mm) flies in central Bhutan: along road from Thimphu to Trongsa: Dungdungsa; Chendebji; Bumthang: near Dorji Gompa; at elevations from 2100 (SD)-2320-2850m. Ground colour is orange with generous grey suffusions, especially in submarginal area; less prevalent in median area. The forewing apex is slightly produced and pointed. The white or hyaline areas of forewing and hindwing cell markings are larger and more rounded than in similar species. The white or hyaline areas of the fw and hw pm lines are present but greatly reduced compared to similar species. There is a diffuse orange band outside the forewing pm line running from costa to the inner margin. This band has outward projections along the veins. Salassa meisteri male (verso), 108mm, central Bhutan, on my home computer only. FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS: Specimens are on the wing in May-June. Salassa meisteri female, Royal Botanical Park, Thimphu, Bhutan, May 11, 2014, 2800m, courtesy of Sonam Dorji, tentative id by Bill Oehlke. Salassa meisteri female, 94mm, central Bhutan, on my home computer only. Salassa meisteri female (verso), 94mm central Bhutan, on my home computer only. ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE: Larvae are probably covered with spine-bearing warts. Cocoons of this species probably hang from trees suspended by a strong silk peduncle. 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. Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page. Return to Salassa genus Goto Asian Pacific Saturniidae Directory Goto Indo-Eastern European Saturniidae Directory Goto Main Saturniidae Index Support this website and visit other insect sites by clicking flashing butterfly links to left or right. Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.