DISTRIBUTION:

Salassa lemaii (wingspan: males: 175-190mm; females: 170-175mm) flies in Vietnam and Thailand at elevations from 950m (Vietnam: Vinh Phuc Province: Tam Dao) to 1680m (Thailand: Chiang Mai Province).

The larger specimens at higher elevation (1700-2050m) in Thailand: Chiange Mai province, Inthanon, are now regarded as subspecies S. lemai chiangmaiensis. See the Salassa lemaii chiangmaiensis file for image and descriptions.

The subspecies S. lemaii chiangmainesis, the nominate subspecies and Salassa shuyiae are the only known Salassa species with large greenish hyaline spots on all wings.

The ocelli of subspecies S. lemaii chiangmaiensis are the largest, while those of nominate lemaii are larger than those of shuyiae, and the fenestrae on the pm lines are also larger in lemaii as conmpared to shuyiae.

Lemaii also tends to have denser yellow scaling than is found in shuyiae.

Salassa lemaii chiangmaiensis females have forewing lengths ranging from 100-105mm, translating to wingspans of 178-181mm.
Salassa lemaii lemaii females have forewing lengths ranging from 90-97mmmm, translating to wingspans of roughly 161-175mm.
Salassa shuyiae females have forewing lengths ranging from 85.5mm, translating to wingspans of roughly 154mm.

The forewing ocelli in Salassa lemaii chiangmaiensis can measure 20mm x 11mm.
The forewing ocelli in Salassa lemaii lemaii can measure 14mm x 8.5mm.
The forewing ocelli in Salassa shuyuiae can measure 9.9mm x 7.1mm.

Ron Brechlin reports a male S. shuyiae with ocelli of 12.5 x 8mm.

On the hindwings the oval ocelli of Salassa lemaii chiangmaiensis can measure 16 x 13.2mm.
On the hindwings the round ocelli of Salassa lemaii chiangmaiensis can measure 10 x 10.5mm.
On the hindwings the roundish ocelli of Salassa shuyiae can measure 8.75 x 7.75mm.

Ron Brechlin reports a male S. shuyiae with hindwing ocelli of 10 x 10 mm.

Males show a similar pattern in regard to size with forewing lengths of 104 und 105mm in S. l. chiangmaiensis; lengths of 92-94mm S. l. chiangmaiensis; and lengths of 86-89mm in S. shuyiae.

The forewing and hindwing ocelli in males are also largest in chiangmaiensis and smallest in shuyiae:

Forewings: S. l. chiangmaiensis 16 x 9 mm, S. l. lemaii 11-12.5 x 7.7-8.5mm, S. shuyiae 6-8, 5 x 5-5.5 mm;
hindwings: S. l. chiangmaiensis 12,5 x 11mm, S. l. lemaii 7.5-9.,5 x 9-9.5mm, S. shuyiae 6.5-8 x 7-8 mm.

With such a great distance between the known specimens in Vietnam and Laos, more examination needs to be done to see if those populations represent the same species or different species.

Salassa lemaii, Vietnam, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in October and December. It is believed there is a single generation each year.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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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Salassa lemai chiangmaiensis 2009