| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 2025 |
| Authors: | U. Paukstadt, Paukstadt L. H. |
| Journal: | Beiträge zur Kenntnis der wilden Seidenspinner |
| Volume: | 24 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Start Page: | 65 |
| Pagination: | 65-72 |
| Date Published: | 29/03/2026 |
| Keywords: | ARCHAEOATTACUS, ATTACUS, BEHAVIOUR, DEFENCE, DEFENSIVE GLANDS, IMMATURE STAGES, PREDATION, PREDATOR AVOIDANCE, SATURNIIDAE, SCOLI, WAX |
| Abstract: | "This paper is dealing with indoor observation on the biology of larvae of the genera Attacus LINNAEUS, 1767 and Archaeoattacus WATSON in Packard, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), cf. also Paukstadt & Paukstadt (1989). The larvae of both related genera are often very similar in external morphology. They have long horn-like tubercles covered with a white waxy layer. The authors had repeatedly reared Attacus and Archaeoattacus larvae and recorded similar observations on the biology and the ecology of the larvae. The tubercles of the larvae are fitted with tiny spines, which could certainly serve to deter species-specific predators, cf. Paukstadt & Paukstadt (1991). When disturbed, the dorsal and subdorsal tubercles, which normally lie against or nearly against the abdomen, are spread out. In this way, the larvae appear visually enlarged to a predator. This behavior has now also been observed and recorded photographically in larvae of the genus Archaeoattacus. Of course, in the genus Archaeoattacus long abdominal tubercles are present dorsally only and are reduced subdorsally. Arch. staudingeri (W. ROTHSCHILD, 1895) from East Malaysia, Sabah, Arch. edwardsii (WHITE, 1859) from northeastern India and Arch. malayanus (KUROSAWA & KISHIDA, 1985 [“1984“]) from northern Vietnam have been repeatedly reared by the authors." |