Actias chrisbrechlinae
Brechlin, 2007

Actias chrisbrechlinae male, Guanxi and Yunnan, China, courtesy/copyright Victor Sinyaev .

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TAXONOMY: Superfamily Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Genus: Actias, Leach, 1815

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DISTRIBUTION:

Actias chrisbrechlinae (wingspan: males: 87-88mm; females: ) flies in Yunnan Province, China, at elevations around 1950-2460m.

Victor Sinyaev indicates it can also be found in Guangxi, China.

Franz and Julian Renner sent me images of this, at the time, undescribed species, referring to it as "vivian". It has now been officially described and named Actias chrisbrechlinae, as per personal communication with Dr. Ronald Brechlin.

Actias chrisbrechlinae belongs in the Actias felicis group, comprised of the following species:

Actias felicis felicis, China: Jiangxi; Guangdong; Guangxi; Sichuan
Actias felicis arianeae, China: Shaanxi: Qin Ling Mountains, Fopin (1800m)
Actias uljanae: China: Hunan: Nanling Mts., 1500 m., Mt Shikengkong.
Actias chrisbrechlinae, China: Yunnan; Guangxi; 1950-2460m
Actias winbrechlini, China: northwestern Yunnan: Fengshuining Mountains (2460m), Yulong County; northern Myanmar = Burma: Kachin: Chudu Mountains (3000m)
Actias neidhoeferi, Taiwan; possibly eastern China
Actias kongjiaria, China: Sichuan: Gongga Shan; 2600-3200m
Actias vanschaycki, China: Sichuan, southwest of Heishui; 3100m
Actias shaanxiana, China: Shaanxi: Tai Bai Shan Mountains; Daba Shan Mountains; 1500m.

With the exception of Actias felicis felicis, Actias chrisbrechlinae and Actias uljanae the moths in this group seem devoid of a forewing pm line, and are an almost uniform pale green, without yellow or pink in the hindwing tails.

The forewing pm line is thin and regularly dentate in the specimens mentioned above.

Actias chrisbrechlinae courtesy/copyright Franz and Julian Renner.

Actias chrisbrechlinae male HT, Fengshuining Mountains, Yunlong County, Yunnan, China,
2460m, May-June, courtesy/copyright Ron Brechlin.

Actias chrisbrechlinae AT, Fengshuining Mountains, Yunlong County, Yunnan, China,
2460m, May-June, courtesy/copyright Ron Brechlin.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Dr. Brechlin reports a flight in May-June. There may or may not be other flights. Franz Renner reports "Actias chrisbrechlinae larvae feed on Larix, Picea or Pinus."

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in night-flying males.

Actias chrisbrechlinae fifth instar, courtesy/copyright Franz and Julian Renner.

Franz Renner writes, May 30, 2007, "We have got eggs from an undescribed species of the genus Actias. The Chinese entomologist named this species "vivian". The species belongs to the "Actias-felicis-group". The larvae are similar to Actias felicis, but the imagines are very different from Actias felicis. I had success rearing this rare species and Julian was very busy and has made some excellent photos. As attachments we send you the pictures of our work."

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Actias chrisbrechlinae first instar, courtesy/copyright Franz and Julian Renner.

Actias chrisbrechlinae second instar, courtesy/copyright Franz and Julian Renner.

Actias chrisbrechlinae third instar, courtesy/copyright Franz and Julian Renner.

Actias chrisbrechlinae fourth instar, courtesy/copyright Franz and Julian Renner.

Actias chrisbrechlinae fifth instar, courtesy/copyright Franz and Julian Renner.

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.

Larix ....... Picea Pinus

Larch/Juniper/Tamarack Spruce Pine

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