Gonimbrasia occidentalis male, Mar Lodj, Fatick Region, Senegal,
June 28, 2010, courtesy of E. Fenton, id by Bill Oehlke
Imbrasia obscura female, Basse Casamance, Ziguinchor, Senegal,
July 20, 2011, courtesy of Pieter Van Pamel.
"The local climate is tropical with well-defined dry and humid seasons that result from northeast winter winds and southwest summer winds. The dry season (December to April) is dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind. Dakar's annual rainfall of about 600 mm (24 in) occurs between June and October when maximum temperatures average 30 °C (86.0 °F) and minimums 24.2 °C (75.6 °F); December to February maximum temperatures average 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) and minimums 18 °C (64.4 °F).
"Interior temperatures are higher than along the coast (for example, average daily temperatures in Kaolack and Tambacounda for May are 30 °C (86.0 °F) and 32.7 °C (90.9 °F) respectively, compared to Dakar's 23.2 °C (73.8 °F) ),[24] and rainfall increases substantially farther south, exceeding 1,500 mm (59.1 in) annually in some areas.
"In the far interior of the country, in the region of Tambacounda, particularly on the border of Mali, temperatures can reach as high as 54 °C (129.2 °F)." Wiki
There may be more species present than listed below, but the extreme heat in many areas is probably beyond the tolerance of most Saturniidae species. I have included many species for which there is no documentation for Senegal, but I think the species listed below have a good chance of appearing in Senegal, based on reports from Guinea.
Recently Alain Coache (AC) granted me permission to post may beautiful images from Senegal. Thierry Bouyer (TB) provided ids for Alain, and I have added some
species to the list based on those images and determinations. One specimen, a Bunaeopsis species was not determined, so I have posted a link for it below,
listed as Bunaeopsis species from Senegal AC/TB.
Gonimbrasia hecate fifth instar, Kaolock, Saalum, Senegal,
October 7, 2004, courtesy of JH, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.
Bunaea alcinoe fifth instar, Senegal,
July 2010, courtesy of Elspeth Kenny.
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