DISTRIBUTION:

Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara (wingspan: males: 73-85mm; females: 84-95mm) flies in India, Nepal, Myanmar (west), Thailand: Chiang Mai, and China: Yunnan (WZ). I suspect ?? it would also be in Bhutan.

Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara (female), Assam, India, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara female, courtesy of Ian Edwards.

Visit Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara images of female by Ian Edwards.

Visit Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara female and fifth instar larva, Myanmar (west) courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

This species is often classified as Caligula.

Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara female, Chiang Mai, Thailand, courtesy of John Moore.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Thailand specimens have been taken in April and September-October, suggesting at least two broods annually. Larvae feed upon Crataegus, Juglans regia, Quercus acuta and Quercus ilex.

I suspect this species flies in the fall. However, Weiwei Zhang reports a June flight in Yunnan, China.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara female.

Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara male.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Saturnia (Rinaca) cachara eggs are oblong and tan coloured, well anchored to twigs and stems with a sticky glue. All images to the right and below are property of and courtesy of Julian L. Addy.

Red "bumps" on thoracic segments add colour to an interesting little larva.

There is little difference in colouration as larvae move into second and third instars. Hairlike setae become slightly more elongate.

This third instar larva has prolegs coloured to match the thoracic bumps. Hairlike setae have become even more elongate. Larvae remain gregarious through first three instars. In the fourth instar, larvae become solitary and have especially pronounced body hair.

This fifth instar larva has reduced hairlike setae.

The cocoon is very porous and the pupa is visible through the silk. Stefan Naumann writes, "Normally larvae of this species do not leave the tree where they are feeding but spin their cocoons below furcations of boughs in the tree crown or in the lower part of the stem of the tree where they find enough furcations."

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.

Crataegus monogyna Juglans regia Ligustrum ovalifolium...... Prunus (KW) Quercus acuta Quercus ilex

English Hawthorn English walnut Privet Plum Oak Holly/Holm oak

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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)