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Samia cynthia
The Ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia) is a saturniid moth, used to produce silk fabric but not as domesticated as the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The moth has very large wings of 113–125 mm, with a quarter-moon shaped spot on both the upper and lower wings, whitish and yellow stripes and brown background. There are "eyespots" on the outer fore wings. Females prepare to mate in the evening or night after emerging in late morning. Adult flight is during May and June in northern Europe, as one generation. In southern Europe a partial second generation may occur in September.
Peigler & Naumann (2003), in their revision of the genus Samia, listed material of true Samia cynthia examined as follows: Indigenous populations Asia: China (Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Shandong, Beijing, Shanxi, Liaoning, Heilongjiang); Korea (North Pyongan, South Pyongan, Pyongyang, Kangwon, South Kyongsan) Introduced Populations (escaped from cultivation or introduced and naturalized) Asia: Japan; India Australasia: Australia America: Canada; United States; Venezuela; Uruguay; Brazil Africa: Tunisia Europe: France; Austria; Switzerland; Germany; Spain; Bulgaria.
Spotted on Apr 24, 2013
Submitted on Sep 6, 2013
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