DISTRIBUTION:

Saturnia (Rinaca) boisduvalii (forewing length: males: 24.65mm; females: 29.75mm) flies in Ussury, Russia and in China.

Saturnia (Rinaca) boisduvalii, male, courtesy/copyright of Oleg Korsun from Chita city,
via Yuri Berezhnoi.

Saturnia (Rinaca) boisduvalii, larva, courtesy/copyright of Oleg Korsun from Chita city,
via Yuri Berezhnoi.

Stefan Naumann indicates this moth is probably a dark nominate Saturnia (Rinaca) boisduvalii while Yuri Berezhnoi and Oleg Korsun regard it as a subspecies of the moth they call Saturnia (Rinaca) fallax. Since it was taken so far from the range of Saturnia (Rinaca) fallax and shows some different characters they think it may be a different species.

The adult was taken in the Krasnochikoisky District, Krasny Chikoi Town, Chita region, Transbaikalien, August 14, 2002, and the larvae was taken in Krasnochikoisky District, Nizhny Narim Village, Studeny Creek, Chita region, Transbaikalien.

The foodplant is birch (Betula pendula), July 14, 1999.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae feed upon Acacia, Acer, Betula, Castanea, Cornus controversa, Fagus crenata, Juglans regia, Lonicera japonica, Prunus, Pyrus communis, Quercus, Rosa, Sorbus and Zelkova serrata.

Adults are on the wing in the fall (late August-October).

Saturnia (Rinaca) boisduvalii (female), Russland, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.
http://www.saturniidae-mundi.de/Oschayck/schayck.htm

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.

Saturnia (Rinaca) boisduvalii, China, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti.

There have been many revisions over the years, and a more complete work still needs to be done with regard to classification of these moths.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE: Diapause is in the egg stage with moths flying in the fall. Pupae are formed in a very porous cocoon.

The outline of the male antennae are clearly visible as are wing casings and other structures on the pupal shell. Despite being porous, the silk threads are relatively stiff. Images on this page courtesy of E. Berlov.

Saturnia (Rinaca) boisduvalii fifth instar, Beijing.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae and/or on various internet sources. 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.

Acacia Acer Betula Bothrocaryum controversum..... Castanea Cornus controversa Corylus heterophylla Fagus crenata Juglans regia Lonicera japonica Prunus Pyrus communis Quercus Rosa Sorbus Tilia Zelkova serrata

Acacia Maple Birch Bothrocaryum controversum Japanese chestnut Giant dogwood European filbert; European hazel Japanese beech English walnut Japanese honeysuckle Cherry Wild pear Oak Rose Mountain ash Lime/Linden Japanese zelkova

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