Antheraea cingalesa (Moore, 1883) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae): First Verified Laboratory Rearing and Life History Documentation in Sri Lanka

The Family Saturniidae comprises medium to very large sized moth species, characterized by robust bodies coated with dense, hair like scales and in most species, prominent eyespots on the wings. Saturniidae includes species in 162 genera and nine subfamilies and is notable among Lepidoptera for its economic value as silk producers, agricultural pests and for their ornamental appearance. The Tusser silk moth is among the species from which wild silk is extracted. In India wide range of silk is produced using close relatives of Antheraea cingalesa, which is endemic to Sri Lanka and first described by Moore (1883). However there are no records of silk production using this species in Sri Lanka. This study reports the successful laboratory rearing of field-collected A. cingalesa in Jaffna, located in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, from October to December 2024, culminating in the emergence of viable adults. Although Jaffna lies within the dry zone and receives monsoonal rainfall from October to January, periodic temperature fluctuations can adversely affect developmental stages, highlighting the importance of stable environmental conditions for effective rearing. The results of this study indicate that A. cingalesa holds promising potential for future commercial or small-scale silk production in the region. Keywords: Saturniidae, Antheraea cingalesa, Tusser silk moth, laboratory rearing