DISTRIBUTION:

The Mendocino Saturnia Moth, Saturnia (Calosaturnia) mendocino (wing span: 2 7/16 - 3 1/8 inches (6.2 - 8 cm)), flies in chaparral plant communities and the dry edges of redwood forests in Monterey County, California, north through the Coast Range and from Tulare County on the western slopes of the California Sierra Nevada, north through the Cascade Mountains and into southern Oregon. Kirby Wolfe reports them from Nevada City, Nevada County, California. This moth can be found in most California counties where there is suitable habitat.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is one brood from February-June.

Caterpillars feed on Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) and madrone (Arbutus menziesii), both in the heath family (Ericaceae).

Demitri Penuelas reports a late April flight in El Dorado County, California.

Saturnia (Calosaturnia) mendocino female, Nevada City, California,
reared on Arctostaphylos, courtesy/copyright Kirby Wolfe.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Eclosions generally occur between 7:00 and 10:00 A.M.. Adults fly in the daytime at temperatures between 13 and 32 C. with a fast and erratic flight. Newly-emerged females (larger than males) fly only after they have mated, with scenting usually from 9:30-10:30 A.M..

The spot on tip of male forewing is smaller than the spot on female. The couple generally remains paired for a short duration of 20-90 minutes.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Females lay oblong, white eggs singly or in bunches of 2-6 on the leaves of the host plants. Eggs hatch 1 to 7 weeks later depending upon temperature. Early instar larvae are black, marked with dull orange. A second instar larva is pictured to the right.

Third instar larvae assume various background colors: yellow, salmon, mauve, green, but always with a black saddle. There are only four instars and larvae have urticating spines. The saddle is lost in the final instar on Arctostaphylos glauca (manzanita) depicted to the right. Loose mesh-like cocoons are attached to stems or branches of the host plants.

Richard Wasson sends the following image from his rearings.

Calosaturnia mendocina third instar,
courtesy of Richard Wasson.

Saturnia (Calosaturnia) mendocino fourth instar, Nevada City, California,
reared on Arctostaphylos, courtesy/copyright Kirby Wolfe.

Calosaturnia (Calosaturnia) mendocino King Range, Humboldt County, California,
July 26, 2006, courtesy of Eugene Hamilton.

Calosaturnia (Calosaturnia) mendocino King Range, Humboldt County, California,
July 26, 2006, courtesy of Eugene Hamilton.

Richard Wasson has sent a series of very nice images of Calosaturnia mendocino larvae and cocoons. He had success rearing them on manzanita.

Calosaturnia mendocino fifth instar (green form) on manzanita,
June 6, 2013, courtesy of Richard Wasson.

Calosaturnia mendocino fifth instar (yellow form) on manzanita,
June 6, 2013, courtesy of Richard Wasson.

Calosaturnia mendocino cocoon on manzanita,
June 16, 2013, courtesy of Richard Wasson.

Visit Calosaturnia mendocino cocoons, courtesy of Richard Wasson.

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.

Arbutus menziesii Arctostaphylos alpinus Arctostaphylos tomentosa..... Arctostaphylos glauca Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Ceanothus cuneatus Rhus integrifolia Rhus trilobata Rhus typhina JHC

Pacific madrone Black bearberry Shaggy-barked manzanita Great-berried manzanita Kinnikinnick Wedgeleaf ceanothus Mahogany sumac Skunk-brush Staghorn sumac WO

CAL PHOTO

Saturnia (Calosaturnia) mendocino

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Visit Saturnia (Calosaturnia) mendocino additional images.