DISTRIBUTION:

Aurivillius zambesianus (forewing length: males: 96-102mm; females: probably larger) flies in
Zambia: Lusaka Province: Rufunsa Ranch: Lower Zambesi National Park; at elevations of 3730 feet.

In March 2013, Philippe Darge described three new Aurivillius species from the same locale in Zambia, based on collecting done by Robert Minetti.

I do not have permission to post the images from Saturnafrica #15 (thus there are no images on this page), but hopefully the descriptions I have provided, based on my viewing of images in the publication, will help myself and others with determinations.

If you have Aurivillius specimens in your collection, and you send me images of same, with data, I will do my best to offer identifications, and will incorporate your images, credited to you, into the data base.

It might seem unlikely that three quite similar species would be flying at the same time in the exact same locale, but the images published in the journal support just that!

In Aurivillius zambesianus the forewing apex is only slightly produced and the outer margin is only slightly concave with a more oblique appearance due to no production near the anal angle as in lucidus, whose apex is much more produced and pointed.

The transverse line is even, less removed from the outer margin than in diversus, and seems somewhat masked by pale lavender suffusions, as are the lines/markings in the pm/subterminal areas, giving the moth a brighter orange appearance with less contrast in the wings, compared to both lucidus and diversus.

I find this moth very similar to Aurvilius oberthuri from northern Malawi.

Zambesian Aurivillius Comparison Plate

Aurivillius zambesianus male HT (verso), Rufunsa Ranch, Lusaka Province, Zambia,
December 14-16, 2012, on my home computer only.

Comparison Plate for Zambian Aurivillius

Aurivillius lucidus male HT female unknown the male forewing anal angle is quite produced in this species, more so than in most other Aurivillius species the fw apex is produced and pointed; dark transverse line widens near inner margin Aurivillius lucidus male PT female unknown orange or yellow; weak irregular pm line; am line prominent; hw pml very prominent Aurivillius diversus male PT Aurivillius diversus female apex less produced; dark transverse line even; wider pm area; outer margin less concave;irregular pm line strong Aurivillius zambesianus male PT female unknown the transverse line is closer to the outer margin in zambesianus males than in diversus males; less contrast between markings (not as dark) and ground colour (bright orange) apex less produced; outer margin more oblique; very even transverse line and suffusions of pale lilac

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Aurivillius zambesianus specimens have been taken in December. I suspect there are at least least two broods annually.

Larvae probably feed on Silk tree (Albizia).

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.

Aurivillius zambesianus male PT, Rufunsa Ranch, Lusaka Province, Zambia,
December 14-16, 2012, on my home computer only.

Aurivillius zambesianus male PT (verso), Rufunsa Ranch, Lusaka Province, Zambia,
December 14-16, 2012, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

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

Mature larvae descend tree trunks to pupate in subterranean chambers.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are anticipated ?? primary food plant and possible alternate food plants. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Albizia.......

Silktree

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Aurivillius Genus

Go to Index for African Saturniidae

Go to Main Index for all Worldwide Saturniidae

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 zambesianus is indicative of a specimen type locale in Zambia along the Zambezi River.