moths belonging to the family Saturniidae. They number
some 42 species presently with a host of subspecies
known as well. Most anyone having traveled to these
regions as a collector/enthusiast has likely encountered
some of them at lights.
They are often in shades of camoflage blending such as
tan, dark browns, black, and rust-red colors. Not really
attention getting -- except for their usually large size.
I have always had an appreciation for various genera of
Saturniidae associated with this region however, getting
truely nice/clean examples of them has never been an
easy thing. Their large size (usually in excess of 6 in.)
means that -- more often than not -- they are wing-marred
or damaged in some manner. Males are often what is available
as (females) are far less often encountered/collected.
Amongst all of the various Arsenura certainly this species
ranks as one of THE most desirable and largest to be found.
This (male) is a very recent acquisition from the holdings of
another collection. Something that I'm very happy to have
found in such nice condition.
