DISTRIBUTION:

Loepa siamensis malayensis (wingspan: males: mm; females: larger // forewing length: males: 44-49mm; females: ) flies in
Malaysia: Pahang state, Cameron Highlands, Tana Ratah (Specimen Type);
Myanmar: Tenasserim;
Cambodia: Kiriom National Park.

I suspect is also flies in southern and or western Thailand.

The male forewing ocellus is very large, always tangential to the pm line. The forewing am line is wide and very prominent, with black edges near the costa and inner and outer deep red edges filled with lighter pink.

Loepa siamensis malayensis male, Gap Rest House (elevation 800m), Malaysia,
March 13, 2007, 11:15pm, courtesy/copyright of Preston Murphy.

Loepa siamensis malayensis male, Malaysia, Cameron Highlands,
courtesy of Mike Jordan.

Teemu Klemetti offers the following regarding flight on peninsular Malaysia: This species flies from "mid March to early April (into May, Kelly Price). Males fly all night but peaks around 10-11 pm and 1-3 am; females fly around 8 pm."

I suspect this species has multiple broods as there is at least one other flight in August and September.

Loepa siamensis malayensis male, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia,
May 2003, courtesy/copyright of Kelly Price.

Loepa siamensis malayensis, in copula,
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, courtesy of Marc Fischer.

Loepa siamensis malayensis female, Malaysia, Cameron Highlands,
courtesy of Mike Jordan.

BOLD images of this moth, listed on BOLD as L. siamensis malaysensis, belonging to Ronald Brechlin, are very similar to the images of moths (posted as Loepa sikkima javanica, sent to me by Kelly Price, Wayne Hsu, Preston Murphy and Marc Fischer, all from Malaysia.

I now feel those moths should all be listed as Loepa siamensis malayensis.

Loepa sikkima javanica may be limited to further south in Sumatra and Java???

Bill Oehlke

Loepa siamensis malayensis male, 76mm,
on my home computer only.

Loepa siamensis malayensis male, verso,
courtesy of Ron Brechlin.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect this species has multiple broods. The specimens type was taken in May of 2006 by Ron Brechlin. Cissus, grape and Virginia creeper would likely prove to be suitable hosts.

Loepa siamensis malayensis male, 80mm,
on my home computer only.

Loepa siamensis malayensis male, 80mm,
on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call at night. Males fly into the wind and track the pheromone plume with their sophisticated antennae.

Loepa siamensis malayensis female,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Loepa siamensis malayensis female,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Loepa siamensis malayensis, first instars on Parthenocissus,
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, courtesy of Marc Fischer.

Loepa siamensis malayensis, second instar on Parthenocissus,
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, courtesy of Marc Fischer.

Loepa siamensis malayensis, early third instar on Parthenocissus,
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, courtesy of Marc Fischer.

Loepa siamensis malayensis, fifth instar on Parthenocissus,
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, courtesy of Marc Fischer.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

The subspecies name is indicative of a specimen type from Malaysia.

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