Actias selene
| Actias selene | ||||||||||||
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Actias selene |
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| Actias selene | ||||||||||||
| ( Huebner , 1807) |
Actias selene , sometimes also called Indian moon moth , is a butterfly ( moth ) from the family of the peacock moth (Saturniidae).
features
Actias selene has a wingspan of up to 16 centimeters. The moths have mint green colored wings, with which the front edge of the front wings is pink and inwardly dark colored. The hind wings are drawn out into long tails, the tip of which is the wing base color, but the other half is pink. Each wing has a typical peacock eye patch . These are mostly pink in color and slightly yellow edged, on one side they are colored black. The front wings, especially those of the males, are arched "moon-shaped". In contrast to the females, the males also have large, combed antennae .
The eggs are about two millimeters in size, colored white and have brown to black markings.
Occurrence
Actias selene is widespread in Asia , from India and Indonesia in the south to Japan in the north, where they can be found at heights of 4,000 meters. Some subspecies are found in Russia , Pakistan , the Philippines, and other parts of Southeast Asia .
Way of life
After about two weeks, the caterpillars hatch , which are initially about five millimeters long and have an intense red basic color and have black point warts. A light-colored hair grows from each of these extensions, which are stinging hairs that cause skin irritation when touched. They feed mainly on the leaves of sweetgum trees ( Liquidambar spec. ) Or in breeding also on rhododendrons and moult a total of four times. After the second moult, they turn green and their appendages turn orange at the tip. The hair resulting from it is also colored black at this time. Before pupation, they spin themselves into cocoons made of white silk , with parts of the plant also being incorporated. The imago hatches after three to four weeks . The moths only live for a short time and, like other peacock moths, cannot eat. They mate after about 24 hours, after which the male dies first, the female lives for about two weeks after laying eggs and then dies too.
Web links
literature
- GF Hampson: The Fauna Of British India. Moths. Vol. I. , Taylor and Francis, London 1892