It is found in south-eastern Asia and China.

The larvae mainly feed on Ailanthus altissima, Prunus laurocerasus, Ligustrum and Syringa species.

Pupation takes place in a silken cocoon.

This moth is considered to be the wild ancestor of the domesticated species known as Samia ricini; the latter having been named first, however, the protonym Saturnia canningi Hutton, 1859 has been ruled to be a conserved name and is therefore not treated as a junior synonym of S.

This article on a moth of the family Saturniidae is a stub.