Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi
Updated as per personal communication (foodplant, range, larval images) with Franz Renner, June 2007
Updated as per personal communication (wingspan, range, adult images) with Ron Brechlin, June 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Steve Kohll (walnut, hornbeam), November 2007

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi
Brechlin, 2004

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi, HT male, courtesy/copyright Dr. Ronald Brechlin

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, 1837
Genus: Saturnia Schrank, 1802
Subgenus: Rinaca Walker, 1855

MIDI MUSIC

"Asian Spring Blossoms"

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

DISTRIBUTION:

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi (wingspan: males: 83-88mm; females: 90mm) flies in the provinces of Hunan and Guangdong, China, in the Nanling Mountains at elevations around 1000m-1500m. It may fly westward to central Yunnan Province as well in the Kunming Mountains. If so, it is probably also found in the provinces of Ghizhou and Guangxi.

Saturnia sinjaevi, Guangdong, China, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

The species name is to honour the collector Victor Sinyaev.

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi Kunming Mountains, China

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species flies in the fall (October-November) and eggs would overwinter.

Franz and Julian Renner have had success with rearing on Prunus padus (Bird Cherry), and Steve Kohll reports success with Juglans (Walnut) and Carpinus (Hornbeam).

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi, HT male (verso), courtesy/copyright Dr. Ronald Brechlin

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.

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi female, Kunming Mountains, China

Saturnia sinjaevi, Guangdong, China, courtesy of Steve Kohll.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Visit Saturnia sinjaevi second and third instars, courtesy of Horst kach.

Franz Renner has reared this species on Prunus padus.

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi first instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi second instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi third instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi fourth instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

Saturnia (Rinaca) sinjaevi fifth instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner.

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.

Carpinus
Juglans
Prunus padus .......

Hornbeam
Walnut
Bird Cherry



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