DISTRIBUTION: Aurivillius aratus, The Cat's-eyed Emperor, (wingspan: males: 90-100mm, 112mm JLA; females: 100-115mm), is widely distributed in western Africa. According to SCI report it flies in Ivory Coast: Adiopodoumé, in March and December. Jean Louis Albert confirms them from Gabon: Haut-Ogooue: Franceville. This species has also been recorded in eastern Botswana and western Zimbabwe, but those populations are actually A. fuscus. If it occurs in Namibia, it would be in the Caprivi and Kavango regions in the extreme northeast and the population there would be A. fuscus and not A. aratus. The moth is honoured on a Republic of Central Africa stamp.

Its range also includes Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, possibly Uganda, People's Republic of the Congo, Angola, Rwanda, Burundi and probably Zambia and Malawi. If the SCI report for Ivory Coast is correct, it probably also flies in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and possibly further west.

Dr. Rolf Oberprieler writes, "Aurivillius aratus: the species in southern Africa is A. fuscus, NOT A. aratus. It has been clear for a long time that "A. aratus" was more than one species, but only when Bouyer in 1995 designated a lectotype, the name aratus became fixed for the West African species, and fuscus the valid name for the southern species. The latter extends into at least East Africa, but the taxonomy there is more complicated (more on this later)."

Dr. Oberprieler's notes supercede any of the other "information" in the distribution section above.

The ICZN calls for genus and species names to agree in gender. The moth was originally described as Saturnia arata, both having feminine endings. Now that it is officially listed with the Aurivillius genus, Thierry Bouyer indicates, "aratus is the actual good spelling. It was described as arata (original spelling), but must be accorded to his actual genus in gender." March 21, 2007.

This species can be distinguished from very similar jolyanorum and triramis by the scattering of dark scales on the ventral surfaces of all wings of aratus. The other two species have a much "clearer complexion".

The dark ventral scaling is especially evident in the specimen below, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert from Gabon, December 12, 2005.

The dorsal surface of the same moth shows considerable darker scaling in the marginal areas of all wings.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Aurivillius aratus moths fly in September, and November-December in Gabon, suggesting at least two broods.

Visit Aurivillius aratus male, (recto and verso), Franceville, Gabon, wingspan 112mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

Larvae feed on Weeping Wattle (Peltophorum africanum) and on Flat-crown (Albizia adianthifolia).

They have been reared in captivity on Willow (Salix).

Aurivillius aratus female, Franceville, Gabon,
September 4, 2006, wingspan 103mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

Aurivillius aratus female, verso, Franceville, Gabon,
September 4, 2006, wingspan 103mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females scent and attract males at night. Both sexes come to lights with males most common around midnight.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Eggs are a translucent yellow and are deposited in groups of 6-10 on foodplant leaves.

First instar larvae are yellow with an orange head, but turn green with characteristic silver spines in subsequent moults,reaching a length of 70mm.

Aurivillius aratus larva (reared on willow), courtesy of Franz Ziereis copyright.

Pupation is under the soil.

One defense strategy often apparent in larvae is the remarkable resemblance in pattern and colouration to hostplant foliage.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Albizia adianthifolia Albizia fastigiata Albizia gummifera Parkia biglobosa Peltophorum africanum...... Piptadenia buchanani Salix

Flat-crown Silktree Silktrees African locust Wattle Piptadenia Willow (FZ)

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

"Aurivillius" is the last name of Dr. Per Olaf Aurivillius, a famous collector of lepidoptera and coleoptera.

The species name, aratus, is the name of a Greek poet and also the name of a Greek general. Pinhey indicates that the name sometimes used (arata) means ploughed up, referring to the "furowed" markings.