Actias

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Actias
Actias adult variation sjh.jpg
An assortment of mounted Actias moths and their cocoons
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Tribe: Saturniini
Genus: Actias
Leach 1815
Species

Numerous, see text

Synonyms
  • EchidnaHübner, [1807]
  • TropaeaHübner, [1819]
  • MeceuraBillberg, 1820
  • ArtemisKirby & Spence, 1828
  • PlectropteronHutton, 1846
  • ArgemaWallengren, 1858
  • AngasWallengren, 1865
  • SonthonnaxiaWatson, 1913
  • ProactiasArora & Gupta, 1979

Actias is a genus of Saturniid moths, which contains the Asian-American moon moths. Long tails on their hindwings are among their distinctive traits. Other moths with similar appearance are Copiopteryx , Argema and Eudaemonia .

Contents

The majority of species in this genus feed on the leaves of sweetgum, pine, or similar trees. As with all Saturniids, adult Actias moths lack functional mouthparts so their lifespan after emergence from the cocoon only ranges from a few days to a week.

Species

Selected former species

Galleries

Eggs

1st Instar

2nd Instar

3rd Instar

4th Instar

5th Instar

Cocoon

Adult

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luna moth</span> Species of insect

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturniidae</span> Family of moths

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<i>Eacles imperialis</i> Species of moth

Eacles imperialis, the imperial moth, is a member of the family Saturniidae and subfamily Ceratocampinae. It is found mainly in the East of South America and North America, from the center of Argentina to south Canada. The species was first described by Dru Drury in 1773.

<i>Antheraea polyphemus</i> Species of moth

Antheraea polyphemus, the Polyphemus moth, is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths. It is a tan-colored moth, with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 in). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hindwings. The eyespots give it its name – from the Greek myth of the cyclops Polyphemus. The species was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1776. The species is widespread in continental North America, with local populations found throughout subarctic Canada and the United States. The caterpillar can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months. Polyphemus moths are considered to be very polyphagous, meaning they eat from a wide variety of plants.

<i>Actias selene</i> Species of moth

Actias selene, the Indian moon moth or Indian luna moth, is a species of saturniid moth from Asia. It was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1807. This species is popular among amateur entomologists and is often reared from eggs or cocoons that are available from commercial sources. They fly mainly at night.

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<i>Actias artemis</i> Species of moth

Actias artemis is a moth native to Japan, Korea, China, India and Malaysia. The species was first described by Otto Vasilievich Bremer and William Grey in 1853. Actias artemis is a close relative and look-alike of Actias luna, the American Luna moth.

<i>Graellsia isabellae</i> Species of moth

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<i>Actias dubernardi</i> Species of moth

Actias dubernardi, the Chinese moon moth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. The species was first described by Charles Oberthür in 1897.

<i>Actias isis</i> Species of moth

Actias isis is a moth of the family Saturniidae first described by Léon Sonthonnax in 1899.

<i>Actias ningpoana</i> Species of moth

Actias ningpoana, the Chinese moon moth, is a moth of the family Saturniidae. The species was first described by father-and-son entomologists Cajetan and Rudolf Felder in 1862. It is quite large, and has long, curved, hindwing tails. There are many congeners across Asia; the Luna moth of Eastern Canada and the United States is a close relative.

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The Saturniinae or saturniines are a subfamily of the family Saturniidae, also known as giant silkmoths. They are commonly known as emperor moths or wild silk moths. They are easily spotted by the eyespots on the upper surface of their wings. Some exhibit realistic eye-like markings, whilst others have adapted the eyespots to form crescent moon or angular shapes or have lost their wing scales to create transparent windows. They are medium to very large moths, with adult wingspans ranging from 7.5 to 15 cm, in some cases even more. They consist of some of the largest sized Lepidoptera, such as the luna moth, atlas moth, and many more. The Saturniinae is an important source of wild silk and human food in many different cultures.

<i>Antheraea</i> Genus of moths

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<i>Lemaireia</i> Genus of moths

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Chinese moon moth may refer to:

<i>Actias chapae</i> Species of moth

Actias chapae or colloquially known as the 'celestial moon moth' is a moth in the family Saturniidae. It is found in Vietnam and China and potentially other countries in the region; it is a montane species recorded from 1500m and higher. It appears to be an exclusive pine feeder and has been raised on many different species of Pinus in captivity.

<i>Rhodinia fugax</i> Species of moth

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References