DISTRIBUTION:

Loepa miranda (wingspan: males: 90-108mm; females: 100-110mm // forewing length: males: ; females: 58-59mm) flies in montane regions of
India: TL: Darjeeling miranda/Sikkim probably paramiranda,
Nepal probably paramiranda,
Bhutan: common in several areas at elevations between 1400-1800m, late September-mid October, probably paramiranda
southwestern China,
northern Burma = Myanmar,
northern Thailand: Chiang Mai probably Loepa orientomiranda,
Laos,
Cambodia ?? and
northern Vietnam: Fan Si Pan, Sapa probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella.

I believe Brechlin, 2010 "refined" this species to include new designations of Loepa orientomiranda from northern Vietnam, Loepa orientomiranda mirella from northern Thailand, and Loepa paramiranda from Sikkim, India (east of Nepal, north of Bangladesh, west of Bhutan). Loepa miranda is reported from Darjeeling in West Bengal, India.

I suspect mirand is limited to northern India and Nepal and possibly in Bhutan, being replaced in other countries, mentioned above, by very similar species.

Loepa miranda female, Chiang Mai, Thailand (probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella),
courtesy of John Moore.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Loepa miranda flies in August-September and into October. There are possibly other peak flights in the year. However, being a montane species, there may be just a single flight in the warmest season.

Parthenocissus tricuspidata has been used for Loepa orientomiranda.

Loepa miranda (male), Nepal, probably paramiranda,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Loepa miranda (male), Fan Si Pan, Sapa, Vietnam, probably Loepa orientomiranda
112mm. 2000m, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Franz Renner indicates he has reared this species (probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella) from stock from Thailand on Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Parthenocissus tricuspidata.

Loepa miranda LT male, Darjeeling, India,
on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adults emerge in the early evening and fly rather weekly at night.

Females have larger bodies, fractionally finer antennae, and much more rounded and larger wings than males.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs overwinter. Larvae are dark, have urticating hairs and light coloured triangular patches on the sides. They spin dense cocoons with an escape valve. The cocoons remind me of the inner cocoons of Hyalophora cecropia. Loepa miranda (probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella) cocoons, courtesy of Franz and Julain Rener.

Loepa miranda, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Alan writes, "I purchased ova from Dave Rushen of the "Living World" in the UK in September years ago. They didn't hatch immediately and it turned out that they were overwintering. The next spring they hatched and were easy to rear on Grape Vine and Parthenocissus. They refused Ampelopsis. They were single brooded and I kept them going for a few years. The adults were very similar to L. katinka but much larger. Unfortunately I don't seem to have any photos of the adult. I'm sure that I have one of the cocoon somewhere..."

Loepa miranda first instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda second instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda third instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda fourth instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda fifth instar, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Loepa miranda, Thailand, probably Loepa orientomiranda mirella,
fifth instar on Parthenocissus, courtesy of Franz Ziereis.

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.

Grape Vine Parthenocissus quinquefolia ....... (FR) Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Grape Vine Virginia Creeper Boston Ivy/Japanese Creeper

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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.

Loepa miranda LT male, Darjeeling, India,
on my home computer only.