Antheraea mylitta
Dear Experts from Whatsthatbug,
what a great webpage! I often enjoy the nice pictures and comments – it is such an explosive mixture of interesting details and beauty, congratulations! It is also a very nice and important medium for the evidentation of where the species occur… For the nice insert from 10.10.07 written by Ibrahim TMC, Kasargod, Kerala – I have another proposal; though the colour is really very much like that of A. yamamai from Japan or Russian Far East (specially in females, I am close to confuse the specimens too), what is quite surprising indeed – it should be an Antheraea mylitta female, with regard to the much bigger eyespots on the wings; a very fascinating species, similar to A. yamamai, but with the caterpillars spinning a much larger, splendid egg-shaped cocoon hanging on a strong peduncle from a twig. (Some subspecies are cultivated for silk in the region.) On the other hand, the information about A. yamamai occuring in India (as introduced species, like in Slovenia where I come from, since 1865) can be found in several sources of Lepidopterological literature – and I am wondering very much how it should be able to survive in a tropical climate, as coming originally from a quite winter-cold region (northern Japan) – except, maybe, in high mountains… (They overwinter as eggs and can only have one generation per year – needing therefore a colder climate.) Do You have any additional information about the Indian A. yamamai population and where they occur? (Attached is a photo of A. yamamai from Slovenia, making love on the window, the female is on the right.) Many Thanks in advance and nicest wishes to You and to Ibrahim, from Berlin,
Bostjan Dvorak
Hi Bostjan,
Thanks for your wonderful letter with all of its information. Sadly, we have no additional information on the image from India, and we no longer have contact information on Ibrahim or his moth. We are thrilled to have your image of mating Antheraea yamamai.
¶ Posted 27 February 2008 § ‡ ° Tagged: bug love Io Moth
Dear Bugman,
I found this beautiful Io Moth this afternoon in SW Florida. Absolutely gorgeous and cute as could be with his forelegs covering his eyes. I just had to share him with you. Thanks for all the great information. Your website is the best! Regards,
Nik
Hi Nik,
Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for sending us your photo of a beautiful male Io Moth.
¶ Posted 12 February 2008 § ‡ ° not an Emperor Gum Moth Caterpillar?
Hi,
I almost stepped on this one this morning, I had thought it was an Emperor Gum Moth Caterpillar, but after looking at other photo’s on the web, it doesn’t seem "tufty" enough. looking at the photo (and measuring my hand), it’s probably about 90mm long near Ballarat in Central/Western Victoria, Australia Also seen at same location, I was assuming that this … is an Emperor Gum Moth ? can you confirm any of my ramblings ? thanks,
Glenn
Hi Glenn,
In our opinion, both your caterpillar and moth are a close relateive of the Emperor Gum Moth, the Helena Gum Moth, Opodiphthera helena.
Emerging Luna Moth
Hi Lisa Anne and Daniel.
I see you love Luna Moths as much as I do. Here is an emerging male I was fortunate enough to photograph. He climbed the stick, expanded his wings and was released into the WI woods. Peace,
Dwaine
Thanks Dwaine,
Your Luna Moth emergence image fills a significant void in our Luna Moth documentation.
Luna Moth
Here are some more pics to add to your already extensive collection of great shots!
Nicholas and Jessica
Hi Nicholas and Jessica,
We believe this is the first time we have received images of an adult Luna Moth and Caterpillar in the same posting. Thanks for the submission, but we wish you had included information on the time of year and location.
I am not sure if I sent a reponse to your inquiry regarding time and location so I thought I would make sure you got the info. I live in Raleigh, NC The Larvae was in 9/29/06 and the Moth was 5/20/06(gotta love digital)
What family is this butterfly?
Hi, I’ m doing one entomologic colection and i have a doubt about which is the family of this this butterfly. Can you help me ? I didn’ t found its classification. Thanks
Eduardo (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Hi Eduardo,
This is a Saturnid or Giant Silkmoth possibly in the genus Rothschildia.
Correction: (03/21/2008)
Daniel
“Rothschildia” by Eduardo from Sao Paulo, Brazil is not a moth from Brazil, but one of the Attacus species. Maybe he is having fun with you. Maybe the cocoons came from southern Asia and they hatched in Brazil Kirby Wolfe site is not a pay site.It has just moved to a new location It is maintained by me, Bill Oehlke http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/kirbywolfe.htm Kirby has images of I think about three hundred worldwide Saturniidae on this location. My private membership site called the World’s Largest Saturniidae Site is the one you refer to as costing $40.00 to become a member. It has images of over 1450 worldwide Saturniidae, including, with permission, all of Kirby’s images. The private membership site also has country checklists for most countries in the world and I work on it almost daily and have for many of the Central and South American countries created checklists at provincial or department level, one stage below national level. There are many worldwide species that are very similar in appearance. Geography is very useful in identifying some of them. Larvae of many species are also depicted.
Bill Oehlke
¶ Posted 25 November 2007 § ‡ ° From Ibrahim
Hi, thought u arent savvy of Indian Luna Moth.But its the discolouration that bothered me. Are they whithered or what? Is it stiil too young to develope its slight green colour?
Ibrahim
Hi Ibrahim,
The overall color balance of your image is blue. Your image looks blue because of the color balance (shady light source). Thanks for sending us your Indian Moon Moth, Actias selene.
Hi there,
I am immensely proud that u have posted my luna moth photo at your site.. Nowadays I am telling my friends here in kerala, India to surf your fabulous site. Luna Moths are the real pick of the site.. Earlier u people have helped me in identifying the japanese Oak Silk and Bagworm moths. Keep up the good work for the better understanding of diverse nature.. Regards
Ibrahim
Hera buckmoth
Hi, you people do a fantastic job! Have been looking at your moth postings and did not see this guy whom I believe to be a Hera buckmoth. Photo was taken in sage and grassland north of Lance Creek, WY.
Dwaine
mea culpa
Hi, sorry, I see you do have a photo of the Hera Buckmoth. I was thinking it is a Tiger moth not a Silkworm moth.
D–
Hi Dwaine,
We spent so much time answering your caterpillar queries that we did not realize you sent another letter. We identified one of your caterpillars as a Buckmoth, probably the Hera Buckmoth, and you sent strong evidence that we were correct with these adult moth images. Thanks for your valuable contribution and we are blushing at your compliments. We are going to repost your caterpillar image with the adult.
¶ Posted 17 November 2007 § ‡ ° 
rss
I like This
