DISTRIBUTION:

Saturnia (Rinaca) zuleika (wingspan: males: approx. 130mm; females: ??) flies in
Nepal: June-July;
southern central Bhutan: July, 1900m;
northeastern India (CB) and Sikkam in northwestern India, Sikkim;
southern China in the province of Yunnan, and in
northern Myanmar = Burma.

This moth is sometimes classified as Saturnia (Rinaca) zuleika, sometimes as Caligula zuleika.

Ron Brechlin reports it in
noerthern Thailand;
Laos: and
northern Vietnam, where this species is replaced by lesoudieri, formerly a subspecies of zuleika.

Saturnia (Rinaca) zuleika male, Yunnan, China, 130mm, courtesy of Johnny Marchant.

Saturnia (Rinaca) zuleika male (verso), Yunnan, China, 130mm, courtesy of Weiwei Zhang.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae feed upon Acer caudatum and Actinodaphne sikkimensis.

Hideshi Naka reports success rearing this species on Quercus acutissima and Swida macrophylla.

The specimen from northeastern India was taken in May 2006.

Saturnia (Rinaca) zuleika male, northeastern India,
May 2006, courtesy/copyright of Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

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.

Wild male (note falcate wings)

Female courtesy of Teemu Klemetti

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Alan Marson writes, "As promised here are the images for Caligula/Rinaca zuleika. The stock was from Yunnan, China and they are feeding on Alnus. I started them on Viburnum, Cornus and Alnus – but switched them all to Alnus in L2 when I found that it was the native foodplant in Yunnan. Apparently this species and C anna overwinter as cocoons."

Saturnia (Rinaca) zuleika sixth instar, China, courtesy of Hideshi Naka.

Saturnia (Rinaca) zuleika cocoons, Yunnan, China,
September 2013, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Alan writes, "Caligula zuleika are perforated like C. thibeta, etc., – but they are very tough cocoons. I am told that both species (zuleika and anna) overwinter in this stage."

See additional images of Saturnia (Rinaca) zuleika larvae, courtesy of Alan Marson.

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.

Acer caudatum Actinodaphne sikkimensis ....... Alnus (AM) Quercus acutissima (HN) Swida macrophylla (HN)

Maple Sishi Alder Sawtooth Oak Large-leafed Dogwood

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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.