Loepa sumatrana

Loepa sumatrana
Nassig, Lampe & Kager, 1989

Loepa sumatrana male, Sumatra,
June 23, 2009, courtesy of Arddu, id by Bill Oehlke.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Genus: Loepa, Moore, 1860

MIDI MUSIC

"Asian Spring Blossoms"

ON.OFF
<bgsound src="AsianSpringBlossoms.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Loepa sumatrana (wingspan: males: 85-90mm; females: larger) flies in
Sumatra: Aceh, North, West: Mentawai Islands and derives its name from its range.

Loepa sumatrana male

This moth is very similar to Loepa javanica, formerly sikkima javanica, but I believe the broken submarginal bands are brownish-orange and thinner in Loepa sumatrana and much more grey and thicker in Loepa javanica.

Loepa sumatrana male, Aceh, Sumatra,
April 21, 2009, courtesy of Henry Wong, id by Bill Oehlke.

Loepa sumatrana is also a smaller species than javanica.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect this species has multiple broods. Cissus, grape and Virginia creeper would likely prove to be suitable hosts.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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.

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