DISTRIBUTION:

Antheraea mindoroensis (wingspan approx.: males: 150mm; females: 161-175 mm) flies in the Philippines: Mindoro Island is the specimen type locality. The image below is of a moth from a wild cocoon, collected in Sta. Fe, Nueva Viscaya, North Luzon. It apparently flies on all the Philippine islands except Palawan. David Marsden confirms a presence on Negros with images (recto and verso) below.

Antheraea mindoroensis male, Mt. Balocaue, Leyte, Philippines,
wingspan: 150.38mm, courtesy/copyright Kelly Price.

Antheraea mindoroensis/negrorissa?? male, Mt. Canlaon, Negros, Philippines,
wingspan: 158mm, January-April, 2011, courtesy/copyright David Marsden.

Antheraea mindoroensis/negrorissa?? male (verso), Mt. Canlaon, Negros, Philippines,
wingspan: 158mm, January-April, 2011, courtesy/copyright David Marsden.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The specimen from Mt. Balocaue, Philippines was taken in July/August 2006 between 600-1000m. The specimen from North Luzon was taken in January.

Ismael Lumawig reports larvae feed on Fagus sylvatica or beech.

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.

Antheraea mindoroensis female courtesy of Ismael and Marie Lumawig,
composited by Bill Oehlke.

Antheraea mindoroensis female, 172mm, Mount Balocaue, Leyte Island, Philippines,
courtesy of Dave Rolfe slight digital fringe repair by Bill Oehlke.

Antheraea mindoroensis female, 160.70mm, Nueva Viscaya, North Luzon, Philippines,
January 2007, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Antheraea larissa philipirissa/mindoroensis, Philippines, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Antheraea mindoroensis/larissa philipirissa female, Philippines, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Based on the two images above of females from Philippines, I do believe they represent two different species, subspecies. I will try to get more information regarding larissa larissa (probably limited to Indonesia, Laos and Thailand); larissa philipirissa; and mindorensis. I have seen several different combinations of those names.

I think ??? mindoroensis is the species/subspecies with the larger hyaline cell spots.

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.

Fagus sylvatica ....... (IL)

Beech

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