| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 2021 |
| Authors: | R. S. Peigler, Liu Z. |
| Journal: | Nachrichten entomologischen Vereins Apollo (N.F.) |
| Volume: | 42 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| Start Page: | 226 |
| Pagination: | 226–233 |
| Date Published: | 12/2021 |
| ISSN: | 0723-9912 |
| Keywords: | ACTIAS, BRACONIDAE, CHINA, CLASSIFICATION, FOODPLANT, IMMATURE MORPHOLOGY, IMMATURE STAGES, LIFE HISTORY, PARASITOIDS, SATURNIIDAE |
| Abstract: | "Actias angulocaudata was reared for the first times in China in 2018 and 2020 and the foodplant in nature was discovered to be Keteleeria (Pinaceae), revealing that it belongs to the felicis-group, and is not closely related to Actias sinensis with adults that closely resemble those of A. angulocaudata. The foodplant records of all the conifer feeding Actias are reviewed. Characteristics of the eyespots on the wings are identified that predict which species feed on confers as larvae. A parasitoid (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) is reported to attack mature larvae of A. angulocaudata. A sexual mosaic of this Actias is also described, showing male and female features in wing color and genitalia. Taxonomy of the felicis-group is discussed, and two new synonymies are proposed. The silver markings on larvae of Actias are noted for other groups of Saturniidae (Bunaeini and Ceratocampinae), Sphingidae, Notodontidae, and other insects that feed on the same foodplants, namely conifers and arborescent Fabaceae with tiny leaflets." |