DISTRIBUTION: Saturnia (Rinaca) simla [Dictyoploca simla] (wingspan 125-150 mm, 5-6 inches), is native to India and derives its name from the type location of Simla in northwestern India; and it also flies in China as evidenced by this specimen (possible subspecies) from Guangdong Province, courtesy of Robert Westphal, and in Myanmar = Burma: Kachin. Ron Brechlin adds Pakistan; Bhutan: common throughout Bhutan below 1800m; Nepal; northern Thailand; Laos; and northern Vietnam. I believe most recent taxonomies classify this species as Saturnia (Rinaca) simla.

Visit Saturnia (Rinaca) simla male, courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.
Visit Saturnia (Rinaca) simla gynandromorphs, courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

Saturnia (Rinaca) simla male, China, fw length 68mm, courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Caligula simla fly in the fall (late September-October-November), sometimes into November.

This single-brooded species favours sweet chestnut and hawthorn as larval foodplants. Anatolij Kulak has reared them on Prunus domestica.

Franz Renner writes, Based on India material, the best foodplant is Juglans (Walnut).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Saturnia (Rinaca) simla in copula, China, courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

Females scent at night after 10:00 pm and males use their highly developed antennae to track the wind blown pheromone. Generally, matings occur from 10:30 pm-midnight and the pair remain coupled until the following afternoon or evening.

Saturnia (Rinaca) simla male copyright Kirby Wolfe.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Simla overwinter in the egg stage with black spiked larvae emerging in the spring. This two-day-old larva emerged ten days after coming out of refrigerated egg storage. From this dorsal view the larva appears totally black, but there is a fine white lateral line which became more pronounced as the larva progressed in this first instar.

Larvae moved into second instar after approximately seven days and the elongated hairs typical of later instars became apparent. Scans of first three instars by Bill Oehlke.

In another seven days larvae moved into third instar and continued development of elongated body hair. Green colouration now becomes prevalent and offers some camouflage protection for the final instars.

Neon green, elongated body hairs of fourth and fifth instars (almost identical) could have served as inspiration for some of Jim Henson's Muppet creatures. Larvae exceed three inches in final instar and increase considerably in girth. Scan to right by Kurt Himmelbauer.

The cocoon is made of a coarse, stiff silk, and is attached to twigs longitudinally. The muddy, grey-green pupa is clearly visible through the loose netting of 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."

Saturnia (Rinaca) simla, China, first instar, on Prunus domestica,
courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

Saturnia (Rinaca) simla, second instar on Salix caprea,
Vietnam, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Saturnia (Rinaca) simla, China, fifth instar, on Prunus domestica,
courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

Saturnia (Rinaca) simla, China, fifth instar, on Prunus domestica,
courtesy of Anatolij Kulak.

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.

Betula Betula pendula (AK) Carya Castanea sativa Crataegus oxyacantha..... Juglans regia (FR) Padus racemosa (AK) Prunus domestica (AK) Pyrus communis Pyrus malus Quercus Salix caprea (JV) Salix fragilis Salix babylonica

Birch Silver/Warty/European Weeping Birch Hickory Sweet chestnut English hawthorn English walnut Bird Cherry, cyanide warning Plum Pear Apple Oak Goat Willow, Weeping willow Crack willow Weeping willow

Additional images by Leroy Simon.

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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)

The actual hardcopy editions of Entomo-Satsphingia may be purchased via the link to the left.