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A. selene, the Indian moon moth, from Mahabaleshwar plateau in western ghats (18°N, 73.5°E, 1,500 M.) has been observed to have n=31 chromosomes in the male. It occurs wild but could be repeatedly reared indoors on fresh leafy twigs of Terminalia crenulata Roth, attaining normal pupation and well-developed cocoons. These cocoons were found reelable giving continuous fibre ranging from 300 to 350 metres. Silk fibre is fine, strong and lustrous. The present observations thus suggest the possibility of its domestication and indoor rearing for reelable cocoons and textile silk.
Tentative phylogenetic affinities of Actias with Antheraea, Attacus, Philosamia and Bombyx are briefly discussed.
