Aurivillius divaricatus
Updated as per Pinhey's Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972, January 19, 2006
Updated as per Bouyer's Catalogue of African Saturniidae, 1999, January 19, 2006
Updated as per Cooper's The Emperor Moths of KwaZulu-Natal, 2002 (in error), January 19, 2006
Personal communication with Rolf Oberprieler and Thierry Bouyer, 2004-2005, January 19, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with Thierry Bouyer, May 21, 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Jacolene Meyer (Tzaneen, Limpopo, November, 2008), December 30, 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Vanessa Rice (Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, March 4, 2009), March 4, 2009
Updated as per personal communication with Jeni Ingram (South Africa; February 13, 2012); February 14, 2012

Aurivillius divaricatus
oar-ruh-VILL-ee-uhsmmdye-vahr-rih-KAT-tuhs
Bouvier, 1927 Nudaurelia

Aurivillius fuscus (male), Botswana, courtesy of Eric van Schayck

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelcom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Bunaeini, Packard, 1902
Genus: Aurivillius, Packard, 1902

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Southern Cat's-eyed Emperor, Aurivillius divaricatus (possibly a synonym of fuscus from Tanzania) , flies in
South Africa: Kaw-Zulu Natal; Limpopo=Eastern Transvaal
Botswana;
Mozambique: Maputo Region;
Zimbabwe.

Aurivillius fuscus male, Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa,
March 4, 2009, via Vanessa Rice, id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Aurivillius fuscus male, Mpumalanga, South Africa,
February 13, 2012, courtesy of Jeni Ingram.

Aurivillius fuscus male, Zitundo, Maputo Region, Mozambique,
115mm, January 19, 2008, courtesy of Andrea Sciarretta,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Rolf Oberprieler confirms this species for South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

In May 2007, Thierry Bouyer indicates, "Aurivillius orientalis Bouyer, 2007 from Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi replaces A. fuscus in those countries."

There are additional images and info at More A. fuscus

Aurivillius fuscus male, Limpopo, South Africa,
November 14, 2008, Tzaneen in the Broederstroomdrift area, courtesy of Jacolene Meyer.

Aurivillius fuscus male, Limpopo, South Africa,
November 19, 2008, Tzaneen in the Broederstroomdrift area, courtesy of Jacolene Meyer.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In South Africa, Aurivillius fuscus moths fly in September-October-November-mid December and again in January-February-early March.

Larvae probably feed on Silk tree (Albizia).


Aurivillius fuscus moth, South Africa, courtesy of Jacolene van der Vyver.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females scent and attract males at night by releasing an airbourne pheromone. Males fly in a zigzag pattern into the wind to pick up the pheromone plume with their antennae. Both sexes come to lights with males most common around midnight.

Aurivillius fuscus (female), Botswana, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

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

Mature larvae descend tree trunks to pupate in subterranean chambers.

Aurivillius fuscus, Pilgrim's Rest, Mpumalanga (west of Nelspruit), Eastern Transvaal, South Africa, December 15, 2007.

Larval Food Plants


Listed below are primary food plant and possible alternate food plants. (Mostly from Cooper and Cooper) The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Albizia adiantifolia
Albizia gummifera
Calliandra haematocephala .......
Newtonia hildebrandtii
Parkia biglobosa
Peltophorum africanum

Flatcrown
Smooth-bark Flatcrown
Red Powderpuff
Lebombo Wattle
Locust bean
Weeping Wattle

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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 honourific for Dr. Per Olaf Christopher Aurivillius, a coleopterist and lepidopterist who lived from 1853-1928.

The species name, fuscus, is for the darker, tawny/pinkish brown colouration of some specimens. See additional notes and images page.


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