DISTRIBUTION:

Saturnia (Rinaca) anna flies in the Himalayan region,
Nepal: June-July;
Bhutan: common at elevations between 1500-3000m, May-June;
northern India: West Bengal.

Saturnia (Rinaca) anna male, Nepal, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti.

It is replaced by subspecies diversa, Byrk, 1944, in northern Thailand;
northern Vietnam;
and Tibet, Yunnan (WZ), China, and
northern Myanmar = Burma.

Saturnia (Rinaca) anna diversa male, Yunnan, China, courtesy of Weiwei Zhang.

This moth is often classified as Caligula.

The TL is Darjeeling [Darjiling]/Sikkim).

Ron Brechlin reports, "Taxonomic note: The status of the most of the taxa within the so-called S. anna-complex has yet to be determined."

Caligula anna courtesy of Deb King.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larval hosts are unknown.

Saturnia (Rinaca) anna male courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of their abdomens to "call" the males. Males use their antennae to hone in on the airbourne pheromone.

Caligula anna, also called Saturnia (Rinaca) anna, female, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti.

Caligula anna, also called Saturnia (Rinaca) anna, female, courtesy of Martin Jagelka.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Alan Marson provides the following images of larvae from Yunnan, China. According to Ron Brechlin these should be subspecies Saturnia (Rinaca) anna diversa.

Saturnia anna diversa second instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa second instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa second instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa third instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa third instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa ?? instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa ?? instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa fourth instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa fourth instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa fifth instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa fifth instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa fifth instar on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Saturnia anna diversa cocoons, reared on Alnus,
Yunnan, China, courtesy of Alan Marson.

With regard to these cocoons, Alan writes, "They are hard, strong cocoons and are the overwintering stage. They were spun in the upright angles of the wooden rearing cage."

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.

Alnus ....... (AM)

Alder

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On my home computer only: notes on Saturniidae of Bhutan by Ronald Brechlin (in English) as published in Entomo-Satsphingia 2 (1): 47 – 55 (March 2009)