DISTRIBUTION:

Coscinocera hercules butleri (wingspan: males: approximately 168mm; females:) flies in Papua New Guinea. This moth may be the same as nominate Coscinocera hercules.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Dave Rolfe reports an October flight in Papua New Guinea.

In its natural setting, this species feeds on Dysoxylum muelleri, (Red Bean); Glochidion ferdinandi, (Cheese tree); Omalanthus novoguinensis, (Bleeding heart); Omalanthus nutans, (Native bleeding heart); Timonius rumphii, and Timonius singularis.p>Larvae often consume most or all of discarded skin.

Other accepted food plants are Homalanthus populifolia, (Bleeding heart tree); Ligustrum, (privet); Panax elegans, (ginseng); Polyscias fulva, (Parasol tree); Prunus serotina, (Wild black cherry); Syringa vulgaris, (lilac).

ECLOSION:

Moths wiggle their way out of double-walled cocoons and then hang to inflate their wings.

Coscinocera hercules butleri female, Bulolo Ranch, PNG, October, 2003, 182mm, courtesy of Dave Rolfe

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in males by emitting pheromones. The males tend to be slightly smaller than the females, but have more vibrant colouration and longer "tails".

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Gravid females lay 80-100 eggs singly or in small groups.

Emerging larvae chew a hole through one side of the egg and struggle to extricate themselves.

Growth is rapid and early instar larvae are predominantly white and look very much like Attacus atlas larvae.

Late instar larvae get quite large (10 cm), like to sip on water droplets, and take on a greenish-blue colouration.

The double-walled cocoons are long and slender and are leaf wrapped.

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.

Dysoxylum muelleri Glochidion ferdinandi Homalanthus populifolia..... Ligustrum Panax elegans Polyscias elegans Prunus serotina Syringa vulgaris Timonius rumphii

Red Bean Cheese Tree Bleeding-heart tree Privet Ginseng Celery Wood Wild black cherry Common lilac Queensland Apple

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Visit Mini-greenhouse and Monstrous larva courtesy of A. Darby.

Goto Male: wings open; wings closed, Anthony Darby

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