Saturniidae of Romania

Aglia tau male, courtesy of Mario Meier.

Flight time and range information on this page is supplied by Morariu Gratian, Bistrita-Nasaud, Romania.

Marius Aurelian sends (January 2009) the following regarding the checklist I have for Saturniidae of Romania. "I was looking over the list of saturniids you have listed for Romania, and I wanted to share with you some information I have:

Aglia tau is widespread and found in 6 of the 8 historical provinces. It is currently not of concern.
Saturnia pyri and S. pavonia are found in all historical provinces and are both listed as vulnerable.
Saturnia spini is now considered extinct in Romania.
Saturnia ligurica is found in the SW and central part of the country.
Perisomena caecigena is now considered extinct in Romania.
Antherea yamamai and A. pernyi were introduced in Romania from Asia for the production of natural silk. People attempted rearing them in the wild, however the project never took off because after 7 years since the first introduction they were all extinct, having been unable to survive harsh winters.

This info comes from Rakosy et al. (2003)."

Aglia tau wdspd
Antheraea pernyi extinct
Antheraea yamamai extinct

Perisomena caecigena extinct
Samia cynthia ?
Saturnia ligurica SW/Central

Saturnia pavonia vulnerable
Saturnia pyri vulnerable
Saturnia spini extinct

Morariu Gratian writes: "Saturnia spini is extinct in Romania. It was last collected in Romania on March 21, 1934 in the Cluj region - Fanatele Clujului (fanate means dried grass).

Aglia tau is common and flies from the end of April into May in hill and mountain areas: (N,Central, W Ro-Bistrita, Mt.Calimani). The larvae feed on Betula, Ulmus, Fragaria.

Saturnia (Eudia) pavonia is common and flies from the end of April into May in low land and hills areas: (N, Central, W, SSE Ro., but rare in Dobrogea-SSE). The larvae feed on Rosa, Rubus, Prunus.

Saturnia pyri is common and flies in May and June in low land, arid areas: S, SSE Ro.(Dobrogea, Bucharest). The larvae feed on Fraxinus, Prunus spinosa.

Perisomena caecigena is very rare and flies in July in low land arid areas: SSE Ro. (Dobrogea-Buceac). Larvae feed on Querqus."

I suspect Antheraea yamamai and Samia cynthia may have been introduced, and if they survive, it is only in isolated pockets.

Bernhard Wenczel suggests the climate and geography are right for Saturnia ligurica, but I have no confirmation of that species in Romania. Marius Aurelian now (2009) sends confirmation in the southwestern and central regions.

Saturnia pyri Romania.

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