South Africa
South Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa, is about twice the size of Texas, and includes Marion Island and Prince Edward Island. It consists of nine provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo=Northern Transvaal or Northern Province, Mpumalanga=Eastern Transvaal or Eastern Province, North-West, Northern Cape, Western Cape.
The climate is mostly semiarid, but it is subtropical along the east coast. Days tend to be sunny, and nights are cool.
There is a vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain.
Njesuthi in the province of Kwazulu-Natal is the highest point with an elevation of 3,408 m.
There are at least forty Saturniidae species reported for South Africa. More may have to be added to the lists.
Gynanisa maja male, Mpumalanga, South Africa,
January 17, 2012, courtesy of Jeni, id by Bill Oehlke
Rolf also favours including Cirina forda as a member of Imbrasia genus.
Tagoropsis hanningtoni has been added as per Cooper and Cooper 2002.
Gonimbrasia zambesina male, Limpopo, South Africa,
November 14, 2008, Tzaneen in the broederstroomdrift area, courtesy of Jacolene Meyer.
Bunaea alcinoe male, Limpopo, South Africa,
November 14, 2008, Tzaneen in the broederstroomdrift area, courtesy of Jacolene Meyer.
Bunaea alcinoe female, Limpopo, South Africa,
November 14, 2008, Tzaneen in the broederstroomdrift area, courtesy of Jacolene Meyer.
I recently saw a picture of Epiphora mythimnia from the
south western edge of the Waterberg Mountains, 10 Km south of
Bulge River, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
"The Zulu Tribe from Natal, South Africa,
make extensive use of Argema mimosae cocoons to make
anklets. The use of these rattles became common in Natal
as a result of the introduction of the rickshaw from China
and India. The cocoons are collected after the moths have
emerged and one or more small stones are placed inside
before they are sewn onto a broad strip of goat skin
(with the fur on the inside for the greater comfort of the
person wearing the anklet). The cocoons are much favored by
the Zulu as these anklets produce a satisfying rattle."
From Moth Cocoon Artifacts by Richard S. Peigler
Lakewood, Colorado USA. http://www.insects.org/ced4/peigler.html
http://www.food-insects.com/
Bunaea alcinoë, Pselaphelia flavivitta, Gynanisa maia,
Epiphora mythimnia, Aurivillius fuscus, Gonimbrasia zambesina,
Imbrasia wahlbergi, Urota sinope and Heniocha dyops.
Bunaeopsis arabella male, 19 December 2008,
S 25 deg 07, 943' E 30 deg 33, 910',
Sterkspruit Long Tom Pass (R37), Lydenburg, northeastern South Africa,
(17 Km out of Lydenburg on the Nelspruit/Sabie road), courtesy of
Jacolene Meyer,
slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.
Arno Meintjes has provided images of Bunaea alcinoe and Pseudaphelia apollinaris, both from Kruger National Park in eastern Northern Transvaal, along the border with Mozambique.
Pseudaphelia apollinaris, Kruger National Park, South Africa,
November 27, 2007, © Arno Meintjes
Bunaea alcinoe fifth instar, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa,
on cabbage tree, January 6, 2009, courtesy of René Malherbe.
Visit Kwazulu-Natal checklist
