DISTRIBUTION: The Samia vandenberghi moth (wingspan: males approx. 135mm; females: approx. 145mm) flies in Sulawesi in Indonesia. Specimens are recorded from Celebes in central Indonesia and from the small island of Selajar. Based on the large number of specimens of this species (both males and females) I recently received from south Sulawesi, I suspect this is a relatively common moth.

The moth is named to honour a Dutch collector, P. J. van den Bergh.

The costa blends very well with surrounding areas. The postmedial line of the forewing is very straight except at the crescent; on the hindwing this same line is straight but slightly undulating.

Crescents are long, narrow and relatively straight.

Ground colour is dark brown. The image from Eric van Schayck, below, shows a "tail" on the eyespot, while Teemu klemetti's image does not show the tail. This is a variable trait.

The hindwing shows a greater suffusion of pink along the veins, emanating from the postmedian line outward.

The female's wings are much more rounded at the anal angles.

Samia vandenberghi (male), Indonesia, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The species probably broods continuously, but there are definite, seasonal peaks, apparently June-July and September-October. Moths have also been taken in February, May and August.

Larvae accept privet in captivity and are probably polyphagous on native trees.

Samia vandenberghi female.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

The female begins scenting a few hours before dawn by projecting a scent gland from the posterior tip of her abdomen. Males fly into the breeze and hone in on the pheromone plume via their highly developed and sensitive antennae.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited on host foliage with incubation requiring eight to ten days.

"Descriptions of immature stages:

Ovum slightly ovoid-shaped, 1.75 by 1.30 by 1.25 mm, egg shell 0.03 mm thick. Coloration whitish with pale yellowish brown secretion for affixing egg to substrate. Chorionic sculpturing not conspicuous, deepenings of 0.013 mm diameter cover the shell.

1st instar larva length 3 mm just after hatching from egg. Ground coloration yellow; head capsule, prothoracic plate, spiracles, legs, and posterior end of anal plate glossy dark brown or black. Segments laterally with a few black patches. Scoli dark brown with transparent spines at apex, not prominent, mostly arranged in six longitudinal rows, except on 8th abdominalsegment with fife scoli were a single median dorsal scolus is present, on 9th abdominalsegment with four scoli, and on meso- and metathorax with each eight scoli.

2nd instar larva not much different from the previous instar. Main coloration yellow, head capsule glossy black, black pattern slightly increased.

3rd instar larva main coloration yellowish or yellowish green, at the end of this instar cuticle covered with whitish waxy powder (rearing Naumann: the first wax production was observed shortly after the moulting). Head capsule, legs and spiracles black, prothoracic plate with a small black stripe only, prolegs yellow. Black pattern increased, each segment with two black rings or rows of patches just before and behind the scoli. Bristles shorter than in the previous instars.

4th instar larva main coloration turquoise, black pattern reduced. Head capsule, prothoracic plate, anal plate, legs (rearing Naumann: legs greenish black), and prolegs yellow. Dorsal scoli pink (rearing Naumann: yellowish); basolateral scoli of thoracic, 1st and 2nd abdominal segments black; other scoli yellow. Scoli much longer than in previous instars; bristles mostly reduced except those at apex of subspiracular scoli.

5th instar larva turquoise coloration with waxy powder much reduced. Black pattern as in the 4th instar but dotches above prolegs elongated enlarged. Prolegs and subspiracular scoli yellow, all other scoli orange. Length of scoli reduced and bristles only at prolegs present. The mature larva is about 5 to 6 cm long in this rearing.

Cocoon grayish brown, length 3.5 to 4.5 cm.

Pupa length in the male 2.5 cm, antennal covers length 10.5 and largest breadth 4.8 mm; length in female 2.5-3 cm and largest breadth 1 cm; antennal covers length 11 mm and largest breadth 4.5-5 mm. Main coloration dorsal dark reddish brown, lateral and ventral pale brown." Ulrich Paukstadt

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. 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.

Ligustrum Polyphagous.......

privet probably eats everything

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