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Rhodinia fugax

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Squeaking Silkmoth
Male
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Saturniidae
Genus: Rhodinia
Species:
R. fugax
Binomial name
Rhodinia fugax
Butler, 1877

Rhodinia fugax, the squeaking silkmoth,[1][2] is a moth in the family Saturniidae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1877. It is native to Korea, Japan, China, and the Russian Far East.[2]

The squeaking silkmoth is known as ウスタビガ (usutabiga, 薄手火蛾) in the Japanese language. The specific epithet translates to "thin hand fire moth", with tabi, "hand fire" being an archaic term for a lantern. The "lanterns" referring to the pupae left behind by the moths after their emergence, which resemble lanterns on defoliated trees.[3] The English epithet is derived from the caterpillar's defense mechanism,[1] which consists of an audible squeaking akin to that of a squeak toy. The sound is produced through rapid bodily contraction, which forces air through the spiracles of the larva.[2]

The pupae of R. fugax are separately known as ヤマカマス (yama-kamasu).[4] They were named because of their resemblance to kamasu [ja], folded straw mats used as storage.[3] Cocoons from R. fugax were used historically to treat whooping cough[5] on top of various usages as folk remedies, silk from its cocoons have been used as a type of wild silk.[6]

Description

Rhodinia fugax has a wingspan between 75-110 millimeters.[7] R. fugax is sexually dimorphic, with males being smaller than females. Males range in size between 75 to 90 millimeters, and females range in size between 80 and 110 millimeters.[4] Their coloration resembles that of oak leaves during the autumn season to serve as camouflage.[8] Both sexes have translucent eyespots on their wings[8] and have hairy bodies. Their hairy bodies aid in thermoregulation due to their late emergence in autumn.[2]

Males of Rhodinia fugax display a variable appearance compared to the females. They range in color from black to dark orange, to brown and yellow shades. Males are always darker in color than the females. Females are always yellow, with the color of their submarginal band varying in thickness and the intensity of its color.[2] Male forewings are more elongated than the rounded forewings of the females.[9]

  • R. fugax diana male
    R. fugax diana male
  • R. fugax diana female
    R. fugax diana female

Life history

Eggs overwinter, or enter a state of diapause during the winter,[10] with the process of blastokinesis, embryonic development, occuring during March. Eggs hatch during April as the temperatures rise.[11] The time of hatching is synchronized to the emergence of hostplant leaf development.[2] The eggs are often laid on the surface of cocoons that the moths have previously emerged from.[12][8] Unlike most Japanese Saturniid moths, the moths overwinter as eggs, rather than as a pupa.[12]

Tests conducted on R. fugax found that eggs kept at 25 degrees Celsius resulted in death. Delayed hatching directly correlated to colder temperatures: with 87 days at 20°C, 100 days at 15°C, and 145 days at 10°C. Larvae would develop if kept at 5°C for 370 days, but would result in death prior to hatching.[11]

The larvae are polyphagous and feed on a wide variety of foodplants. These include: Acer spp., Castanea crenata, Celtis pallida, Celtis sinensis, Fagus spp., Hevea brasiliensis, Ilex verticillata, Phellodendron amurense, Platanus spp., Prunus domestica, Quercus acutissima, Quercus cerris, Quercus cuspidata, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis, Salix spp., and Zelkova serrata.[7][13] In captivity, R. fugax larvae specifically prefer Quercus serrata, Zelkova spp., Phellodendron amurense, and Prunus spp.[2]

A total of five instars occur during the larval development. The first instar is small and entirely black, covered in dark hairs. In captivity, the larvae are reared on Crataegus. Second instars are slightly larger, with blue tubercules on the second bodily segment, with a black stripe running down the side of its body. The third instars are bright green, with blue tubercules running down the sides of its body, it has mostly lost the black coloration that the previous two instars display. The fourth instar is entirely green and displaying the same amount of tubercules as the previous instar.[2] The final instar is instantly distinguishable from the previous four, as they lack the spines that the previous instars exhibit.[12] The fourth and fifth instars[2] defend themselves by emitting an audible squeaking sound through ejecting air from their trachea through the spiracles[2] which is described as sounding using the Japanese onomatopoeia "キュー、キュー" (kyu-kyu). The sound that the larvae emit make them popular with children.[12] The larvae are preyed upon by parasitoid wasps, including Gregopimpla ussuriensis (Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) which is a major predator for the larvae.[14]

Time lapse of a R. fugax larva undergoing pupation

Larvae begin to enter the pupal stage around June and July.[10] The pupae are bright green to act as camouflage amongst the green foliage, the pupal case sports an open slit at the top to allow the adult moth to emerge.[2] They are hung using a silk thread on tree branches.[12] Empty cocoons can be spotted hung amongst defoliated tree branches during the winter months.[3][12]

Adults emerge between the late autumn months of October and November.[7][8][4] Adults emerged from 2 PM to 6 PM.[15] Only one generation of moths are produced yearly, thus making R. fugax univoltine. The moth is diurnal, flying during the early mornings, finding its mate during its daytime flight.[2][8] The adult moths lack mouthparts, thus making their lifespans brief. Male and female moths concentrate their energy as adults to find a mate before they die.[8] Mating begins between 5 AM-8 AM, and ended in the time between 3 PM-6 PM, unlike other Saturniid moths such as Antheraea yamamai and Antheraea pernyi which mate during the evening.[15] Virgin females on average lived for 15.1 days, while females who have mated live for only 3.5 days on average. Oviposition occurs during the evening, ending around 6 PM.[15]

  • Final instar with a dotted back due to parasitoid wasps[10]
    Final instar with a dotted back due to parasitoid wasps[10]
  • Final instar
    Final instar
  • R. fugax larva in the process of spinning a cocoon
    R. fugax larva in the process of spinning a cocoon
  • Cocoon of R. fugax
    Cocoon of R. fugax

Distribution

The squeaking silkmoth is found in Korea, Japan, China, and the Russian Far East.[9] In Japan, it is found throughout the islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.[7] It has been additionally sighted on Sado Island.[4]

The nominate subspecies fugax is found throughout the Japanese main islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Subspecies diana is found on the northern island of Hokkaido.[16] Subspecies diana has also been recorded on Manchuria,[17] and the Russian Far East.[9]

Habitat

The adults inhabit Satoyama hillsides, flatlands, and mountainous regions.[9]

Interactions with humans

The primary interaction between Rhodinia fugax have been in regards to its cocoons. Humans in Japan have used its cocoons for a variety of purposes, including talismans, folk remedies, and R. fugax silk has been researched for its potential for silk production.

The cocoons of Rhodinia fugax were historically used as a remedy for tumors and lumps by reducing them in whooping cough sufferers.[18] More specifically, the cocoons were used as folk remedies in various parts of Japan. In the vicinty of Fujisawa in Iwate prefecture, boiled cocoons were used as a folk remedy for mouth ulcers. In the region between Fukushima prefecture and northern Tochigi prefecture, cocoons were attached to the throat to prevent colds.[19] Azuki beans placed within the cocoons were used as talismans in Gifu prefecture. In the Hida region, cocoons were attached to injuries and used as finger cots.[19] The pupae have been historically eaten by the people of Nagano prefecture, served as tsukudani. Supplements made from its pupae have been sold as a quack dietary supplement.[19]

Rhodinia fugax produces a type of wild silk, and has been researched for its commercial potential with limited success. Silk from R. fugax showed the lowest temperature needed for thermal degradation from 369–371 °C.[20] Researchers have successfully cloned leucine-rich fibroin genes extracted from the silk glands in R. fugax. Further research into fibroin genes from R. fugax can yield new varieties of biomaterials.[21]

A passage within the The Pillow Book titled "みのむし、いとあはれなり" refers to a "screaming bagworm." It is likely that this "minomushi"; which directly translates to "bagworm" is the larva of R. fugax.[22]

Etymology

The generic name of fugax means shy in Latin. fugax can also mean swift flight.[23]

Vernacular names

A woven kamasu bag

The English vernacular name for Rhodinia fugax is the Squeaking silkmoth. The name is derived from the caterpillars habit of squeaking when threatened to ward off any potential predators.[1] It has also been referred to as the Pellucid-spotted silk moth in English.[9]

The Japanese name for the imago of R. fugax is ウスタビガ Usutabiga. Usutabiga is written in kanji as 薄手火蛾. The Japanese vernacular name directly translates to "thin hand fire moth," with "hand fire" being an archaic term for a lantern. The name is derived from the emptied cocoons hanging from tree branches resembling lanterns.[3]

The silken cocoons are most often called ヤマカマス, yama-kamasu. Kamasu were folded straw mats, frequently used as bags which resemble the folded cocoons that R. fugax larvae produce.[3] They have been alternatively known as ツリカマス tsuri-kamasu and ヤマビシャク yama-bishaku.[9]

Taxonomy

The genus Rhodinia was of uncertain taxonomic position, with no consensus on Rhodinia's placement within either the tribes Attacini or Saturniini within the Saturniinae. Some researchers, including (Bouvier, 1936) classify Rhodinia within its own tribe, the Rhodiicae with the genus Pararhodia. Chen et al. (2021), through genetic analysis determined that the genus Rhodinia belonged in the Saturniini rather than Attacini.[1]

Rhodinia fugax had its entire mitogenome sequenced in 2021 by Dong-Bin Chen et al. The moth had its mitogenome sequenced with 25 separate mitogenomes from multiple seperate families and representative species within the family Saturniidae to determine its broader placement. Chen et al. found that the genome in its entirety had a length of 15,334 base pairs, akin to other Saturniids such as Actias selene (15,236 base pairs) and Antheraea proylei (15,575 base pairs).[1]

Three subspecies are currently recognized by GBIF.[24]

  • Rhodinia fugax diana Oberthür 1886
  • Rhodinia fugax fugax Butler 1877
  • Rhodinia fugax szechuanensis Mell 1938

The National Center for Biotechnology Information recognizes an additional 4 subspecies, all described by Ronald Brechlin in 2007.[25]

  • Rhodinia fugax flavescens Brechlin 2007
  • Rhodinia fugax guangdongensis Brechlin 2007
  • Rhodinia fugax jiangxiana Brechlin 2007
  • Rhodinia fugax shaanxiana Brechlin 2007

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Chen, Dong-Bin; Zhang, Ru-Song; Jin, Xiang-Dong; Yang, Jian; Li, Peng; Liu, Yan-Qun (3 September 2021). "First complete mitochondrial genome of Rhodinia species (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae): genome description and phylogenetic implication". Bulletin of Entomological Research: 1–10. doi:10.1017/S0007485321000808. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Rhodinia fugax — "Squeaking silkmoth"". Breedingbutterflies.com. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Kurakata. "ウスタビガのヤマカマス ～天然のクリスマスオーナメント？～". TONZAKOな世界 (TONZAKO Design Co., Ltd) (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "ウスタビガ本州以南亜種 Rhodinia fugax fugax (Butler, 1877)". An Identification Guide of Japanese Moths (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  5. ^ Mitsuhashi, Jun (2016). Edible insects of the world. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 9781315350882. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  6. ^ Ye, Gongyin; Hu, Cui (1996). "Some features of silk-producing moths [Bombyx mori, Antheraea pernyi, Antheraea yamamai, Philosamia cynthia ricini]" (PDF). Tropicultura. ISSN 0771-3312.
  7. ^ a b c d "ウスタビガ". www.insects.jp (in Japanese). 昆虫エクスプローラ (Insect Explorer - Konchuu Ekusupurora). Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "ウスタビガ | 昆虫図鑑". Konchu-Zukan 昆虫図鑑 "Insects Encyclopedia". KONCHUZUKAN. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Inoue, Hiroshi. "ウスタビガとは". 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典,百科事典マイペディア,世界大百科事典 (Encyclopedia Nipponica) (in Japanese). コトバンク. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Kawabe, Toru; Maehata, Mami. "ウスタビガ". イモムシ・ケムシの専門サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  11. ^ a b Umeya, Yoshichiro (1955). "ウスタビガRhodinia Qugaxの越年卵の発育零点について". The Zoological Society of Japan: Zoological magazine. 64(6). Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "ウスタビガ・Qちゃん？《キュー、キューと鳴きます》…北摂の生き物". 変わったくらしをする生き物 "Creatures with unusual lives". www.hokusetsu-ikimono.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Rhodinia fugax". HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  14. ^ Watanabe, Kyohei; Ito, Masato (28 February 2015). "A parasitoid wasp of Rhodinia fugax (Butler, 1877) (Lepidoptera, saturniidae), Gregopimpla ussuriensis kasparyan & khalaim, 2007 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae), new to Japan". 神奈川県立博物館研究報告 自然科学 (Bulletin of the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum. Natural Science). ISSN 0453-1906. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  15. ^ a b c Mitamura, Toshimasa (6 September 2003). "Mating behavior and oviposition of wild silkmoth, Rhodinia fugax Butler (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae)". International Journal of Wild Silkmoth and Silk. 8: 73–80. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  16. ^ Yan, Qi; Kanegae, Akiko; Miyachi, Takashi; Naka, Hideshi; Tatsuta, Haruki; Ando, Tetsu (January 2015). "Female Sex Pheromones of Two Japanese Saturniid Species, Rhodinia fugax and Loepa sakaei: Identification, Synthesis, and Field Evaluation". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 41 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1007/s10886-014-0538-6. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  17. ^ Packard, Alpheus Spring (1914). Monograph of the Bombycine Moths of North America: Families Ceratocompidæ (exclusive of Ceratocampinæ), Saturniidæ, Hemileucidæ, and Brahmaidæ. 1914. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 167.
  18. ^ Meyer-Rochow, V. Benno (7 February 2017). "Therapeutic arthropods and other, largely terrestrial, folk-medicinally important invertebrates: a comparative survey and review". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 13 (1): 9. doi:10.1186/s13002-017-0136-0. Retrieved 15 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  19. ^ a b c "野蚕のやる気　富士発條　命のバネ". Fujihatsujyo. Fujihatsujyo Co.Ltd. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  20. ^ Malay, Ali D.; Sato, Ryota; Yazawa, Kenjiro; Watanabe, Hiroe; Ifuku, Nao; Masunaga, Hiroyasu; Hikima, Takaaki; Guan, Juan; Mandal, Biman B.; Damrongsakkul, Siriporn; Numata, Keiji (September 2016). "Relationships between physical properties and sequence in silkworm silks". Scientific Reports. 6 (1): 27573. doi:10.1038/srep27573. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  21. ^ Sezutsu, Hideki; Tamura, Toshiki; Yukuhiro, Kenji (24 October 2008). "Leucine-rich fibroin gene of the Japanese wild silkmoth, Rhodinia fugax (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)". European Journal of Entomology. 105 (4): 561–566. doi:10.14411/eje.2008.075.
  22. ^ "ウスタビガ（Rhodinia fugax）暁の蛾類図鑑". kanon1001.web.fc2.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  23. ^ "ウスタビガ Rhodinia fugax fugax (Butler, 1877)". 蛾色灯。. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Rhodinia fugax Butler, 1877". GBIF. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Taxonomy browser (Rhodinia fugax)". NCBI taxonomy database. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved 15 November 2021.


Category:Moths of Japan Category:Moths described in 1877 Category:Wild silk

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