DISTRIBUTION:

Argema mimosae, The African Moon Moth or African Lunar Moth (wingspan: males: 85-95mm; females: 90-100mm), is widely distributed in the eastern half of Africa from Natal through
Tanzania: Kirawira; to
Kenya.

In Namibia it is only found in the Octavi Mountains.

Anatolij Kulak reports prepared specimens, both male and female, with wingspans of 126mm.

Argema mimosae is featured on Mozambique (right) and Botswana (left) postage stamps. I suspect it is also found in Tanzania, Malawi (confirmed by Thierry Bouyer), Zambia and possibly Uganda, but I have not seen reports of such. Thierry Bouyer also confirms it for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Philppe Darge confirms it for northern Zambia: Luapula Province: Mwense. Research is being done regarding use of silk. Rolf Oberprieler confirms this species for South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Both the Cabbage tree emperor moth, Bunaea alcinoe, and the Moon Moth, Argema mimosae, were honoured at the same time on South African postage stamps, issued in a series on 20 September 2002.

Bouyer, 1999, equates elucidata Grunberg, 1910; bouvieri Ghesquiere 1934; and occidentalis Gschwandner all with mimosae. A. bouvieri is celebrated on a Democratic Republic of the Congo postage stamp.

I believe this image was taken from an insectnet.com ad posted by Greg Lewallen. It was listed as either Argema bouvieri or Actias bouvieri. Not everyone accepts Bouyer's reclassification. This should in no way be taken as a criticism of either Thierry Bouyer or Greg Lewallen. Rolf Oberprieler writes, "Argema mimosae: Bouyer 1999 is correct that bouvieri Ghesquiere, 1934 from Zaire is the same as mimosae. I have bred this species from Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zaire; there are no differences in the larvae, and the adults grade from the shorter-tailed Namibian form ("subspecies") elucidata via typical mimosae into the longer-tailed bouvieri in the north. Only the West African fournieri Darge is distinct enough to regard as a separate species."

Visit Argema mimosae male and female, courtesy of Darrell Gulin.

Visit Argema mimosae, Kirawira, western Serengeti, Tanzania, courtesy of David Bygott.

Visit Argema mimosae, yellow and green variations, adults and larvae, courtesy of Jean-Yves Malmasson.

Visit Argema mimosae female, courtesy of Steve Ife.

Visit Argema mimosae yellow form larva, courtesy of Gary Saunders.

Visit Argema mimosae yellow form larva, courtesy of Eric Goedfreed, via Rob Mayo.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Adults fly in January and February, and in native habitat larvae feed on Tamboti (Spirostachys africana) and Marula (Sclerocarya birrea).

Staghorn sumac has also been used successfully in captivity. Anatolij Kulak reports success in Europe rearing larvae on Euphorbia.

In more tropical regions there are up to three broods per year.

Argema mimosae male, Kenya, courtesy/copyright Anatolij Kulak.

Argema mimosae female, Kenya, courtesy/copyright Anatolij Kulak.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Calling females successfully attract males around midnight; thereafter females begin flying and ovipositing shortly after dusk. Both sexes come in to lights.

Argema mimosae female, courtesy of Matin Jagelka

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Paul Lanza reports pairings in early March 2006. Females deposited both white eggs and dark eggs. Eggs that were not misted or kept at high humidity began to collapse on the third day. Larvae emerged from eggs of both colours. High humidity also seems important for larval health. Eucalyptus gunnii was accepted and hatchlings are red with a long black saddle. Argema mimosae first instar, courtesy of Paul Lanza. Clark Thompson is reporting some success with larvae on Laurel Sumac.

Argema mimosae early second instar, courtesy of Paul Lanza.

Flattish eggs are deposited in small clusters of 2-5 on foliage. First instar larvae are dark red with black abdominal saddles, but then become green for remaining instars. This second instar courtesy of Jan Hellert will become greener as it fleshes out and red tubercles will become less predominant.

Larvae are solitary in all stages and withdraw their head and forelegs when disturbed, assuming a sphinx-like posture. The doral surface is highly ridged, with setae at the top of each elongated peak.

Prior to the fifth instar, larvae are not nearly as bulky. At maturity, larvae approximate a lenght of 70mm. Long body hairs and protruding dorsal "spikes" are evident.

The tough, thick, silvery cocoon is affixed sideways to a plant stem. There is a prominent emergence basket at the top.

Typical of Argema cocoons, there are some irregular holes in these structures.

"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

Argema mimosae second instar larva on Liquidambar styraciflua,
courtesy of Salvador Soares, copyright

Argema mimosae third instar larva on Liquidambar styraciflua,
courtesy of Salvador Soares, copyright

The red tips on the ridges disappear with the molt into the third instar.

Argema mimosae fourth instar larva on Liquidambar styraciflua,
courtesy of Salvador Soares, copyright

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae and/or on various internet sites and/or personal communication. 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.

Commiphora mollis Eucalyptus Euphorbia (AK) Juglans regia Liquidambar styraciflua Rhus laurina Rhus typhina Sclerocarya birrea Sclerocarya caffra Spirostachys africana........

Paper tree Eucalyptus Spurge English walnut Sweetgum Laurel sumac Staghorn sumac Marula Wild mango Tamboti

Return to Argema Genus

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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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

The genus name comes from the Greek word 'argema", meaning a cataract in the eye. This is probably meant to be descriptive of the thick rings around the eyespots of these moths.

The species name "mimosae", possibly?? indicates a little known food plant, the Mimosa tree (Pinhey).

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