Ambulix [sic] schauffelbergeri Bremer & Grey, 1853, in Motschulsky (ed.), Etudes Entomologiques 1: 62. Type locality: [China,] Pekin [Beijing].
Synonym. Ambulyx trilineata Rothschild, 1894.
Synonym. Oxyambulyx schauffelbergeri sobrina (Mell, 1922).
Synonym. Oxyambulyx schauffelbergeri siaolouensis Clark, 1937.
[Further details on this species in Japan, as well as photos of many stages, can be found on Digital Moths of Japan.]
Wingspan: 88--124mm. Male similar to Ambulyx maculifera but generally smaller and ground colour tending to be more brownish-yellow. Forewing narrower, upperside ground colour brownish-yellow, subbasal black-green spot generally smaller than in Ambulyx maculifera, basal to medial area with heavy black-brown zigzag lines and patches, subterminal line with many more scattered black scales, strongly arched and the yellow inner edge narrow, ending at the tornus, the blackish green spot in the submarginal area between veins CuA1 and CuA2 generally smaller and more indistinct than in Ambulyx maculifera, marginal area greyish-black; underside covered with dense scattered brownish-black scales, marginal area grey. Hindwing upperside with heavy zigzag lines and with many more scattered greyish-black scales (Jiang, Kitching, Xu, Xu, Yan, Yu, Liu & Hu, 2025).
Male genitalia similar to Ambulyx sericeipennis sericeipennis. Uncus and gnathos heavy and thicker. Sacculus shorter and broader than in Ambulyx sericeipennis sericeipennis, dorsal ridge irregularly dentate with a variably shaped apical tooth, harpe narrowed to a finger-like lobe. Phallus slender, posterior lobe apically sharp, with tiny teeth ventrally (Jiang, Kitching, Xu, Xu, Yan, Yu, Liu & Hu, 2025).
China: iv (Guizhou; Zhejiang); 23.v (Yunnan); v-vii (Fujian; Shanghai); vi (Sichuan; Jiangsu; Hubei; Beijing); vi-vii (Henan; Jiangsu); 15.vii (Shaanxi); ix (Hunan; Anhui); x (Shanghai). Japan: 12.v (Shikoku); 15.v-19.vi (Honshu); 10.vi (Hokkaido); 1-30.vii (Honshu; Hokkaido); 17.viii (Shikoku); viii (Honshu).
In northern China there are two generations per year, with adults flying in April and August (Yang, 1978).
Park et al. (1999) give June until August as the flight period in Korea.
OVUM: Oval (1.46 x 1.63mm).
LARVA: 82--87mm.
PUPA: 43--46mm.
Larval hostplants. Reported from Juglans regia in China (Wang, 1990; Vyacheslav Ivonin, pers. comm. 2022).
China: Liaoning (Changhai, Dachangshan Island); Hebei; Beijing (Baihua Shan; Badaling National Forest Park; Haidian); Shandong (Qingdao); Shaanxi (Ankang City, Huoditang Forest, 1400m; Zenping County, 1140m); Henan; Jiangsu (Longtan; Laoshan, Nanjing, 270m); Anhui (Mt. Huang Shan; Yaoluoping, Yuexi County, 990m); Shanghai (Jiading); Zhejiang (Tianmu Shan; Hangzhou); Hubei (Zhijiang; Mt. Guifeng, Macheng; Yingshan County); Shanghai (Jiading New Town); Sichuan (Baoxing; Emei Shan; Kangding; Xiaolou; Leshan, 1070'); Chongqing (Fengjie; Chongqing City); Yunnan (Menghai County); south Xizang/Tibet (Mutu, Namjagbarwa region, 850m (Wang, 1988)); Guizhou (Jiucai Ling; Xinzhaidashan, Zhijin County, 1000-2000m); Hunan (Dayong; Fushoushan, Yueyang, 1097m); Fujian (Longqi Shan; Emei Feng, 1300m); Guangdong; Hainan (Duowen Ling, nr Lingao).
North Korea: North Pyongan Province (Chonmasan); Hwanghae Province (Mt. Kuwol, 950m).
South Korea: Kyonggi Province (Gwangleung).
Japan: Hokkaido (Nanaemachi; Nari-gawa); Honshu (Tokyo; Gifu; Hakone; Nashimoto; Koike; Mikaboyama, 750m; Mt. Haruna; Izumigatake; Okura; Shirasawa; Tokatta; Miyota; Shimoinagun, 950m; Akadani); Shikoku (Shioemachi; Mononobe); Kyushu; Tsushima.
From Nepal and northeastern India to central Vietnam (Le & Vu, 2024), eastern and central China, South Korea and Japan (Komatsu & Inoko, 2000).
Map: Distribution of species of the Ambulyx schauffelbergeri- and Ambulyx kuangtungensis-groups: Ambulyx latifascia (black triangles); Ambulyx kuangtungensis (blue dotted line); Ambulyx schauffelbergeri (red dotted line); Ambulyx sericeipennis sericeipennis (green dotted line); Ambulyx sericeipennis joiceyi (purple triangles); Ambulyx sericeipennis javanica (orange triangles); Ambulyx sericeipennis luzoni (green triangles); Ambulyx sericeipennis palawanica (red triangles); and Ambulyx tobii (yellow patch). (© Jiang, Kitching, Xu, Xu, Yan, Yu, Liu & Hu, 2025).
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