DISTRIBUTION:

Attacus soembanus (forewing length: males: 107-112mm; females: 125mm or wingspan of 25cm) flies in
Indonesia: Sumba, at elevations from 50-800m.

The species name is indicative of a specimen type location from Soemba, an early spelling of Sumba Island, Indonesia.

Based on recent (2010) DNA barcode analysis, Attacus soembanus, from Sumba Island, Indonesia, is no longer a synonym of A. inopinatus. Sumba Island is southeast of Flores Island, home of Attacus inopinatus. Still further to the northwest in Lombok Island and Sumbawa Island, flies A. paukstadtorum.

Sumba, part of the province of West Nusa Tenggara Province, is an Indonesian island as part of the Lesser Sundra Islands chain. It lies southeast of Flores (A. inopinatus), which is east of Lombok and Sumbawa (A. paukstadtorum).

Geography and subtle shape, size and location differences in the forewing fenestrae help to distinguish these species. The hindwing pm line in A. soembanus is quite straight compared to the more S-shaped lines in A. paukstadtorum and A. inopinatus.

Attacus soembanus male (verso), Sumba, Indonesia,
courtesy/copyright of Ulrich Weritz.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Attacus soembanus probably broods continuously with records of adults on the wing for March-April, June and December.

The following foodplant comments may or may not apply.

Host plants on which cocoons are found include the following: Avocado (Persea americana) and Kayu Rukus (a still not identified forest tree). Larvae may be polyphagus and probably also feed on Nauclea orientalis (Rubiaceae), guyabano, "atis" (custard apple) (Annonaceae), Sandoricum koetjape (santol), "banaba" (Tagalog name) and Hibiscus sp. Ligustrum would be a good choice for captive rearing out of natural range.

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:

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.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Attacus genus

Goto Asian Pacific Saturniidae Directory

Goto Main Saturniidae Index