DISTRIBUTION:

The White-streaked saturnia moth, Saturnia (Calosaturnia) albofasciata (wing span: 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5 - 6.4 cm)) flies in mountain chaparral communities at moderate elevations from Lake County, California south through the Coast Range, southern California, and into Mexico: Baja California Norte.

Lemaire, 1978, lists it from Lake County, Tulare County, El Dorado County, Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County in California. Tuskes, Tuttle and Collins, 1996, add Shasta, Tehama, Yolo, Solano, Glenn, Fresno, Kern, Riverside and San Diego counties. See the map for additional California sightings.

In the northern California counties it has been taken at elevations as low as 900-1300 feet, while in the southern counties, where it seems more abundant, it is usually seen above 3500 feet.

This moth is sometimes listed in its original genus, Calosaturnia and sometimes in the Saturnia genus, with Calosaturnia now regarded as a subgenus of Saturnia.

Saturnia (Calosaturnia) albofasciata (male) courtesy of Chris Conlan.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

A single brood flies in October and November.

Larvae feed on Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), snowbush (C. cordulatus), desert ceanothus (C. greggii), and mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adults emerge in early afternoon, and mating takes place shortly afterwards. Females, which are larger than males, do not fly until they have mated. Saturnia (Calosaturnia) albofasciata female, courtesy of Chris Conlan.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

After dark, females lay eggs in small groups on twigs of the host plant. Eggs overwinter and hatch in April. The tightly-spun cocoon is attached to a stem of the host plant. Larval image courtesy of Chris Conlan.

Saturnia (Calosaturnia) albofasciata copyright Kirby Wolfe.

Saturnia (Calosaturnia) albofasciata copyright Kirby Wolfe.

These larvae pass through only four instars before spinning cocoons.

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.

Ceanothus cordulatus Ceanothus cuneatus Ceanothus leucodermis Ceanothus spinosa Cercocarpus betuloides....... Cercocarpus montanus

Mountain white-thorn Wedgeleaf ceanothus Chapparral whitethorn Greenbark ceanothus Birchleaf cercocarpus True mountain mahogany

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