Rhodinia jankowskii

Rhodinia jankowskii (Rhodinia jankowskii)

Phylum — arthropoda
Class — insecta
Order — lepidoptera
Family — saturniidae

Genus – rhodinia

Appearance

The older caterpillars are emerald green below and yellow-green above. They have 2 rows of small spines on their backs. A thin white line runs along the sides.

The wingspan of butterflies is 75-80 mm. Females are larger than males. The body of the butterfly is covered with hairs. Males have feathery antennae. The color is light brown. The edges of the forewings are yellow. All wings have large translucent eyespots.

Habitat

Rhodinia jankowskii is found in the Russian Far East and Japan.

Behavior

Rhodinia jankowskii is active at night. Flight in September and October. Eggs overwinter.

Diet

The caterpillars feed on the leaves of the Amur cork tree.

Adult butterflies of Rhodinia jankowskii do not feed and live off the stocks accumulated during the larval period.

Reproduction

For their reproduction you need a terrarium with a size of 50 x 50 x 70 cm. The female lays eggs in large groups on the twigs of the forage plant. Eggs are of marble color and oval. Eggs need wintering at a temperature of about 0 °C and a humidity of 50-70% in a shaded place on the balcony. In the spring, when the leaves appear on the trees, the eggs should be placed in heat, after which they will hatch within 1-2 weeks. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of willows, oaks and beeches. But the best food for them is the leaves of Phellodendron amurense. If the newborn caterpillars do not begin to feed, they should be brought for 1-2 days to a dark place. The caterpillars should be kept in mesh terrariums for 6-8 insects. In the terrarium, you need to place a branch of a forage plant. Forage plants should be replaced every 3-4 days. The insects should be kept at room temperature and humidity of 60-70%. The caterpillar develops for 7-12 weeks and then pupates in a cocoon. The cocoon is bright green, and eventually it turns red-brown. The cocoon is attached to a thin twig and hangs from it on a mulberry tree. The cocoon is open from above. The pupa is brown. Butterflies hatch at night. The butterfly's lifespan is 5-7 days.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 50 × 50 × 70 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies. Room temperature is necessary.