DISTRIBUTION:

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii (wingspan: males: 85-90mm; females: 90-105mm) flies in Japan.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS: Moths are on the wing in the fall (October-November) and females deposit eggs that overwinter. Larvae feed on Populus deltoides, Castanea crenata, Quercus acutissima, Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata and Quercus variabilis. Alan Marson reports success on Crataegus. Visit Alan's images of Caligula jonasii eggs and all instars. Franz Renner indicates Prunus padus is a good foodplant.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii male, Nagano, Honshu, Japan, courtesy of Shin-Ichi Ohshima.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii male (dark form), Nagano, Honshu, Japan, courtesy of Shin-Ichi Ohshima.

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.

The forewings of the female are rounded in contrast to the more falcate form of the males.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii male, Japan, courtesy of Shin-ichi Ohshima

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii female, Japan, courtesy of Shin-ichi Ohshima

Tomikusa, Anan-cho, Nagano-pref., Honshu, Japan Central. October 12, 2002

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii female, Japan, courtesy of Martin Jagelka.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Shin-ichi Ohshima (Japan) reports cherry, willow, popular, oak, plum, sycamore, black alder, maple and many other deliduous trees serve as hosts, and egg hatch in April – May in Tokyo.

Caligula jonasi female with eggs on stem

Eggs are affixed to twigs in the fall and overwinter in that stage. Newly emerged larvae are black with a pinkish-red patch on dorsal thoracic segments.

Japonica larvae have the long green body hairs typical of this genus. In the fourth and fifth instars body hairs are especially long relative to body size right after a moult. Mature larvae spin an extremely porous cocoon which is affixed longitudinally to host stems. The muddy, grey-brown pupa and discarded larva skin are visible through the "mesh".

The six thoracic prolegs are a distinctive "burgundy" in contrast to a relatively pale green body colour. Spiracular rings are a pale pink.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii larva, Japan, courtesy of Martin Jagelka.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii first instar, Japan, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii first instar, Japan, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii second instar, Japan, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii second instar, on crataegus, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii second instar, Japan, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii third instar, Japan, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii third instar, Japan, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii third instar, on crataegus, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Saturnia (Rinaca) jonasii fourth instar, Japan, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

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.

Castanea crenata Crataegus (AM) Populus deltoides....... Prunus padus (FR) Quercus acutissima Quercus mongolica Quercus serrata Quercus variabilis

Sweet chestnut Hawthorn Eastern cottonwood Bird Cherry Sawtooth oak Mongolian Oak Konara Oriental Oak

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