DISTRIBUTION:

Actias shaanxiana (wingspan: males: approx. 64mm, females: 69mm) flies in the Tai Bai Shan Mountains and Daba Shan Mountains of Shaanxi Province, China at elevations of 1500m.

IN 2012, Brechlin & Meister elevated this mo0th to full species status as Actias shaanxiana from Actias kongjiaria shaanxiana.

Actias shaanxiana AT, Tai Bai Shan Mountains, Houzbenzi,
Shaanxi Province, China, 1600m, courtesy/copyright of Ronald Brechlin.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Dr. Ronald Brechlin reports this species on the wing in June-July. It might also fly at other times.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

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.

The species name, "shaanxiana", is indicative of a range in Shaanxi province, China.

The genus name, Actias, probably comes from the Greek Actaeon, who is the hunter who had the misfortune of being torn to pieces by his own dogs after accidentally encountering the naked goddess Artemis. To punish him, Artemis splashed water on Actaeon and turned him into a stag.