Cocoon ID needed

[dertodesking]

Hi All,

Can anyone help me identify the species that made this wonderful cocoon?

I got it with a small collection of Sat moths I acquired some time ago...sadly the original collector/breeder is now deceased and my internet searches have shown up a few near matches but nothing quite the same.

It is very clearly white in colour (not off white) and has the most beautiful, delicate "honeycomb" structure.

Thanks in advance.

Simon

Attachments:

[dertodesking]

...a closer picture of the main structure of the cocoon...

Thanks again,

Simon

Attachments:

[africaone]

do you have at least the locality or region !

it looks like an Argema cocoon ! sure a saturniinae one

[dertodesking]

Feb 24, 2012 13:12:09 GMT -8 africaone said:

do you have at least the locality or region !

it looks like an Argema cocoon ! sure a saturniinae one

Hi Africaone,

Sadly not...nothing other than the cocoon itself. Interestingly though there were a series of bred Argema mittrei in the collection I bought so I guess it may be this?

Thanks for your help,

Simon

[africaone]

yes may be mittrei (regarding size and architecture of the cocoon)

maybe photo effect but mittrei coccon is really silvery