Ambulyx japonica koreana Inoue, 1993, Insecta Koreana 10: 50. Type locality: South Korea, Kangwon Province, Mt. Odae [Odae-san].
Wingspan: 81--86mm. Male similar to Ambulyx japonica japonica, but larger and ground colour tending to be more yellow, the blackish green spot with on the side of the segment 7 much smaller, forewing broader. Female similar to male, but blackish green spot with only on each side of the segment 6, wings broader and ground colour darker, antennae much slenderer (Jiang, Kitching, Xu, Xu, Yan, Yu, Liu & Hu, 2025).
Male genitalia similar to Ambulyx japonica japonica, but uncus more strongly curved, upper lobe of sacculus tending to be broader and straighter and lower lobe reduced with a broad apical tooth (Jiang, Kitching, Xu, Xu, Yan, Yu, Liu & Hu, 2025).
Frequents mid- to high elevation mainly evergreen broad-leaved forest.
China: 4.v (Chengde); 9.v (Xingshan); 10.v (Fangshan); 30.v (Ziqiu Township); 4.vi (Yaoluopingcun); vi (Qinling; Baihua Shan; Chenhezhen; Baxianshan National Nature Reserve); 25.vi (Changbai Shan); 20.vii (Lingyuan); 23-31.vii (Yintiaoling Nature Reserve; Jiudi Tanyuan). North Korea: 24-30.vi (South Pyongan Province). South Korea: 13.v-3.vi (Kyonggi Province); 18-31.v (South Chungchong Province); 20.v-26.vii (Kangwon Province); 11.vi (South Cholla Province); 14.vii (Cheju Province).
OVUM:
LARVA:
PUPA:
Larval hostplants. Recorded in China on unspecified Aceraceae (Chu & Wang, 1980). In Japan, the nominotypical subspecies has been recorded on Acer (Inoue et al., 1982) and Carpinus japonica (Nakamura, 1977), while Yano (1994) reared it on Carpinus laxiflora and Carpinus tschonoskii. Juglans mandschurica and Rhus javanica were refused.
Unknown.
China: Jilin (Changbai Shan); Liaoning (Lingyuan); Hebei (Chengde; Hebei Wulingshan National Nature Reserve); Beijing (Fangshan; Baihua Shan; Mentougou, 1210m); Tianjin (Baxianshan National Nature Reserve); Shaanxi (Qinling; Chenhezhen, Zhouzhi County); Henan (Baotianman, 1170 m; Nianpangou); Anhui (Yaoluopingcun); Hubei (Xingshan, 1300m; Ziqiu Township, Changyang County, 1473m); Sichuan (Jiajinshan, Xiaojin County, 1800m); Chongqing (Jiudi Tanyuan; Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, Wuxi County, 1270m; Jiudi Tanyuan); Guizhou; Jiangxi (Wuyishan, 1500m); ?Hainan (Jinfeng).
The many records from the Qinling Mountains and other mountainous areas of China represent a considerable extension of the original known range of this subspecies (NCFY, SFSI, IZAS). The record from Hainan (Zhu & Wang, 1997), however, is suspect (too far south).
North Korea: South Pyongan Province (Myohyang-san).
South Korea: Baengnyeong-do & Daecheong-do; Kyonggi Province (Gwangleung; Aengmubong; Youngjong-do; Myungji-san); Kangwon Province (Chiak-san; Hongcheon; Odae-san; Samak-san; Daeryong-san; Seolak-san; Yangyang; Taebek-san; Donghae; Chuncheon; Bongmyung-ri; Jiam-ri; Youngwol); South Chungchong Province (Gyeryong-san); North Cholla Province (Daedun-san; Mujugucheondong; Jiri-san; Namwon); South Cholla Province (Nejang-san; Baekyang Temple; Wolchul-san; Gurye; Haenam); North Kyongsang Province (Ulleung-do; Sobaek-san; Youngcheon; Cheongdo); South Kyongsang Province (Hamyang; Jinyang; Yeohang-san; Muhak-san; Namhae; Pusan; Geoje-do; Goseong; Milyang; Sancheong; Ulsan; Uiryong; Hadong; Hapcheon); Cheju Province (Cheju-do; Shiitake-goya, 800m; Topyung; Gwaneum Temple; Andeok; Sungpanak; Youngsil; Ipseok-dong; Seoguipo).
Korea and eastern China. Previously, this subspecies was considered restricted to the Korean Peninsula.
Map: Distribution of species of the Ambulyx placida-group: Ambulyx japonica japonica (blue dots); Ambulyx japonica koreana (pink patch); Ambulyx japonica angustifasciata (green dots); Ambulyx placida (ochre squares); Ambulyx semiplacida semiplacida (red dots); Ambulyx semiplacida montana (black dots); Ambulyx semiplacida interplacida (orange patch); Ambulyx semiplacida bhutana (yellow dots); and Ambulyx wukong (purple squares). (© Jiang, Kitching, Xu, Xu, Yan, Yu, Liu & Hu, 2025).
Holarctic; eastern Palaearctic region. Pleistocene refuge: Monocentric -- Sinopacific refugium.
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