DISTRIBUTION:

Samia kohlli (forewing length: males: 75-84mm; females: 70-81mm) (wingspan: males: 115-133mm; females: 118-146mm) flies in the vicinity of Pahang, Kampung Raja, in West Malaysia. It is also seen in the Chiang Mai District of northern Thailand.

Peigler and Naumann indicate the species is generally not seen around the coast and flies at elevations of 200-2500m. They record it from western Malaysia: Cameron Highlands (900m), Genting Highlands (1500m); Myanmar = Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and southern China.

Samia kohlli male

This species is large with intense colouring and males have a falcate forewing which is long and slender near the apex. The crescents are long and wide with distinct yellow, white and black components. I have not seen any black scaling inside the antemedial line. There are some regional differences.

The species is named for collector Steve Kohll.

Based on Peigler and Naumann's revision, the male (2) and female (3) on Plate 1 of Die Saturniidae der Cameron- und Genting-Highlands in West Malaysia, Lampe, 1984, are Samia kohlli, not S. cynthia as listed.

Samia kohlli female, Frasers Hill, Pahang, Malaysia,
April 8, 2008, courtesy/copyright C.W. Gan.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Teemu Klemetti writes "Samia kohlli flies from late March into early April, a bit later than (insularis) tetrica. Males fly from 1-3am; females around midnight." There are additional flights throughout the year, but the peak is March-April.

In Malaysia moths have been reported in March-April and November. There may be additional flights.

Larvae feed on Cinnamomum camphora in the wild and have been reared on Ligustrum ovalifolium and Ailanthus altissima. They probably utilize a host of other tree species.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the night-flying males with an airbourne pheromone released from the tip of the abdomen.

Samia kohlli female, courtesy of Ulrich Paukstadt.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

The mature larvae are pale green, without black spots, and have orange thoracic scoli and blue lateral scoli.

The large cocoons are pinkish tan.

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.

Ailanthus altissima Cinnamomum camphora....... Ligustrum ovalifolium

Ailanthus Camphor Privet

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