DISTRIBUTION:

The Antheraea zwicki moth (wingspan 140 mm) flies on the Palawan Islands of the Philippines.

Antheraea zwicki, male, Palawan, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

This moth was described as a subspecies of A. gschwandneri, but in his 2001 paper Stefan Naumann elevates it to full species status, indicating there is no close relationship to gschwandneri.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to detect female scent which is distributed into the wind. Males fly into the wind in a zigzag pattern to detect the pheromone and subsequently locate the female.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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.

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

"Antheraea" is derived from either the Latin "anthra" referring to pollen or from the Greek feminine of "anthros" meaning flowery. There may be a link to the large and feathery antennae which distinguish the males of this genus.

The species name is honourific for Andreas Zwick from Germany.