compiled by Wolfgang A. Nässig & Colin G. Treadaway

The fauna of the Saturniidae of the Philippine Islands was published in 1998 (see below). Later additions are added in footnotes.
Names listed in bold face were new descriptions in the 1998 publication. Later additions and comments are added in footnotes.

Tribus Attacini Blanchard, 1840
Genus Attacus Linnaeus, 1767

Attacus atlas (Linnaeus, 1758)
Attacus caesar Maassen, 1873
Attacus lorquinii C. & R. Felder, 1861
Attacus lemairei Peigler, 1985

Samia luzonica (Watson, 1914)
Samia treadawayi Naumann, 1998

Actias philippinica Nässig & Treadaway, 1997

Actias philippinica philippinica Nässig & Treadaway, 1997
Actias philippinica bulbosa Nässig & Treadaway, 1997

Actias selene (Hübner, 1806)

Actias selene brevijuxta Nässig & Treadaway, 1997

Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) paniki Nässig & Treadaway, 1998

Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) paniki paniki Nässig & Treadaway, 1998
Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) paniki sahi Nässig & Treadaway, 1998

Antheraea (Antheraea) halconensis Paukstadt & Brosch, 1996
Antheraea (Antheraea) rosieri (Toxopeus, 1940)
Antheraea (Antheraea) rosieri imeldae Nässig & Treadaway, 1998
Antheraea (Antheraea) larissa (Westwood, 1847) ^{(see footnote 1)}
Antheraea (Antheraea) larissa larissa (Westwood, 1847)
Antheraea (Antheraea) larissa mindoroensis Brosch & Paukstadt, 1996
Antheraea (Antheraea) larissa philippirissa Treadaway & Nässig, 1997
Antheraea (Antheraea) semperi C. & R. Felder, 1861
Antheraea (Antheraea) semperi semperi C. & R. Felder, 1861
Antheraea (Antheraea) semperi noeli Nässig & Treadaway, 1998
Antheraea (Antheraea) gulata Nässig & Treadaway, 1998
Antheraea (Antheraea) schroederi U. Paukstadt et al., 1999 ^{(see footnote 2)}
Antheraea (Antheraea) gschwandneri Niepelt, 1918 ^{(see footnote 3)}
Antheraea (Antheraea) gschwandneri zwicki Nässig & Treadaway, 1998

Loepa nigropupillata Nässig & Treadaway, 1988
Loepa mindanaensis Schüssler, 1933
Loepa palawana Nässig & Treadaway, 1997
Loepa sp.?

Lemaireia schintlmeisteri Nässig & Lampe, 1989

Footnotes:

1. In a recent publication (Paukstadt, U., Paukstadt, L.H., & Brosch, U. (2000): Taxonomische Änderungen bei den Taxa des Antheraea-larissa-Komplexes (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). — Entomol. Z. 110 (3): 71–72) U. Paukstadt et al. published the opinion that a) the Philippine (except Palawan) larissa should belong to a separate species, mindoroensis, with two subspecies (mindoroensis and philippirissa), and b) the Javanese and Neomalayan populations of larissa should belong to two different subspecies, larissa (on Java/Bali) and ridleyi (other area). The publication did not supply any illustrations nor detailed descriptions nor a reliable diagnosis to prove that opinion. Based on the little data delivered within that paper we cannot adopt this hypothesis. The variability both in genitalia morphology and in wing pattern and colouration is so high under the different insular populations of larissa s.l. that we still believe that it cannot be proven on the morphological basis alone that the Philippine and the Sundanian larissa belong to different species. Therefore, we prefer to deal with the Philippine populations as subspecies of larissa for the time being (as published by us in 1998). In addition, we do have some doubt that it really was justified to separate ridleyi from larissa; in contrast to other Javanese Saturniidae and Brahmaeidae the differences in the “larissa-complex” between Java and Neomalaya are only minor. — In any case, it might well be possible that there are genetically fixed relevant (i.e., of subspecific of specific rank) differences between some of the insular populations of the “species-complex” of larissa; but we think that this cannot be shown with external and genitalia morphology of such variable taxa alone; this can only be demonstrated reliably by biochemical or genetical studies. (See also on the Sundaland page.) — Back.
2. This species was called platessa Rothschild, 1903 in the Philippine fauna of 1998. However, in a recent publication (Paukstadt, U., Brosch, U., & Paukstadt, L. H. (1999 [28. December]): “Antheraea (Antheraea) schroederi n. sp., eine neue Saturniide von den Philippinen (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)”. — Galathea, Ber. Krs. Nürnberger Entomol., Suppl. 6: 23–32) this taxon was described as a new species schroederi. The differences between the taxon schroederi and the continental and Sundanian platessa are relatively small (therefore we did not intend to describe this taxon in 1998), so we think that the status of a subspecies might also be sufficient for the Philippine taxon. The reliable proof of specific distinctness within closely related populations of the frithi-subgroup cannot be drawn from external morphology of these often very variable animals; genitalia morphology has often also proven to be not very helpful. So a study of the sexual pheromones, or an alloenzyme or DNA study appears to be the only valid method to distinguish closely related species in this group. — There is, however, a mistake in the type list: the locality of two female paratypes, Marinduque, is a small island off the SW coast of Luzon and has nothing to do with the larger island Bohol much farther down south, situated between Leyte, Cebu and Mindanao, as written in the publication; “Bohol” is also not found on the label of the two specimens. — In another publication within the same issue, L. H. and U. Paukstadt (1999: “Die Beschreibung der Präimaginalstadien von Antheraea (Antheraea) platessa W. Rothschild, 1903 von Nord Borneo, [sic] sowie Angaben zur Biologie und Ökologie (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)”. — Galathea, Ber. Krs. Nürnberger Entomol., Suppl. 6: 13–22) described the larva of the Bornean A. platessa. It is quite similar to all other species of the frithi-subgroup, but shows distinctive dichromatic dorsal scoli on meso- and metathorax in last instar. It was not stated whether the dorsal scoli on A8 are still separated in last instar (as illustrated for earlier instars) or fused. — Back.
3. In a recent publication the status of the Sumatran gschwandneri was discussed (see in the footnote on the Sumatran page here). If the publication by U. Paukstadt et al (1998, see here) is correct, the status of the Palawan taxon gschwandneri zwicki would require further study, considering the Bornean species of the group in further detail. — Back.

Checklist of the Saturniidae of the Philippines

Published in:

The Saturniidae (Lepidoptera) of the Philippines Wolfgang A. Nässig and Colin G. Treadaway Dr. Wolfgang A. Nässig F.R.E.S., Entomologie II, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg,  Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany  Colin G. Treadaway F.R.E.S., Entomologie II, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg,  Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany  Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo, Supplementum 17 See under NEVA, see also the more detailed citation under Saturniid books. Availability & prices: see here.

Abstract:  23 species of Saturniidae are reported for the Philippine Islands (a checklist is provided on p.  231). 2 new species and 4 new subspecies are described: Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) paniki n. sp. (widespread endemic on the Philippines), Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) paniki sahi n. ssp. (endemic on Palawan), Antheraea (Antheraea) rosieri imeldae n. ssp. (endemic on Palawan), Antheraea (Antheraea) semperi noeli n. ssp. (endemic on Mindoro), Antheraea (Antheraea) gulata n. sp. (endemic in the Palawan region), Antheraea (Antheraea) gschwandneri zwicki n. ssp. (endemic on Palawan). The holotypes are deposited in the Treadaway collection which is assigned to Senckenberg-Museum, or in the Nässig collection in Senckenberg-Museum, Frankfurt am Main. The lectotype of Antheraea semperi C. & R. Felder, 1861 is designated (in BMNH, London). Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) youngi Watson, 1915 is interpreted as a separate Sundaland species (stat. rev.). All species are described and discussed. 13 colour plates are included which illustrate each species with examples of some of the possible variation; further 6 colour plates illustrate preimaginal instars. Maps illustrating the distribution of the taxa on the Philippines are provided, as well as illustrations of the genitalia. Tables have been added to show the degree of endemicity as well as the total number of species per island and per zoogeographical region. Mindanao (14) and Luzon (12) are the islands from which the largest number of autochthonous Saturniidae species is known, followed by Palawan and Leyte (10), Negros and Mindoro (9).

Die Saturniidae der Philippinen (Lepidoptera)

Zusammenfassung:  23 Saturniidenarten werden von den Philippinen nachgewiesen (Artenverzeichnis siehe S.  231), darunter 2 neue Arten und 4 neue Unterarten: Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) paniki n. sp. (weitverbreitete endemische Art der Philippinen), Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) paniki sahi n. ssp. (endemisch auf Palawan), Antheraea (Antheraea) rosieri imeldae n. ssp. (endemisch auf Palawan), Antheraea (Antheraea) semperi noeli n. ssp. (endemisch auf Mindoro), Antheraea (Antheraea) gulata n. sp. (endemisch in der Palawan-Region), Antheraea (Antheraea) gschwandneri zwicki n. ssp. (endemisch auf Palawan). Die Holotypen befinden sich in der Sammlung Treadaway, die in das Senckenberg-Museum, Frankfurt am Main, gelangen wird, oder sind mit der Sammlung Nässig bereits dort. Der Lectotypus von Antheraea semperi C. & R. Felder, 1861 wird designiert (im BMNH, London). Antheraea (Antheraeopsis) youngi Watson, 1915 wird als separate sundaländische Art interpretiert (stat. rev.). Alle Arten werden beschrieben und diskutiert. Auf 13 Farbtafeln werden die Arten abgebildet mit einem Querschnitt der Variationsbreite; weitere 6 Farbtafeln zeigen Präimaginalstadien. Die Verbreitungsmuster der Taxa auf den Philippinen werden auf Verbreitungskarten vorgestellt; die Genitalmorphologie wird abgebildet. In Tabellen werden Endemiegrad sowie Gesamtartenzahl pro Insel und pro zoogeografischer Region angegeben. Die meisten Nachweise autochthoner Arten sind von Mindanao (14) und Luzon (12) bekannt, gefolgt von Palawan, Leyte (je 10), Negros und Mindoro (je 9).

© 1999– 2002 by W. A. Nässig — compiled & published 18. April 1999, last changes and additions: 18. January 2002