DISTRIBUTION:

Antheraea gulata (wingspan: males: 99-102mm; females: probably larger) flies in the Philippines: Palawan.

This species flies at low elevations in mangrove swamps, possibly ?? up to 800m.

Ground colour varies from yellow with reddish-orange lines to yellow-orange with more contrasting reddish-brown lines.

Antheraea gulata orange male, 102mm. Palawan, Philippines,
courtesy of Ron Brechlin.

In the male, the rounded apex is produced. The outer margin is concave (hollowed out) below the apex, but becomes convex for its lower third. Lines are thin and reddish with a vestigial, diffuse, wavy median line.

(Etymology: named after the Tagalog word for “surprise”: gulat — this species was formerly confounded with the similar Bornean species A. brunei.)

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is a June flight. Larval hosts are unknown.

Antheraea gulata?? female, Palawan, Philippines.

Antheraea gulata ?? female, 137mm, Philippines,
courtesy of Bill Garthe.

The two females depicted above seem quite different. I suspect they are two different species. Possibly one of them is A. gulata; possibly neither of them is A. gulata (Bill Oehlke).

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:

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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