DISTRIBUTION:

Bunaeopsis chromata (wingspan: males: 100mm; females: probably larger) flies in
central eastern Tanzania in the Uluguru Mountains.

The moth depicted at top of page from Tanzania, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti, was sent to me as B. hersilia and it may well be that species. However, all other images of B. hersilia that I have exhibit some orange-red scaling on the facing sides of the forewing am and pm lines. Also the B. hersilia that I have depicted exhibit a strongly produced am line lobe in the lower third of the line. The antennae of Teemu's moth seem to be darker and bushier than the specimen of B. chromata from Philippe Darge. Other opinions are welcomed. Thierry Bouyer does not list B. hersilia from Tanzania.

Teemu reports the moth from near Morogoro which corresponds to Darge's account for central eastern Tanzania.

The body and the wings are a bright yellowish-orange. The forewing apex is slightly obtuse and the anal angle is rounded. The am line is well marked, dark grey on the body side, pale (white) rose toward the outer margin. From the costa it is straight for about two-thirds of its distance and then is strongly bent to make a right angle where it meets the inner margin.

The slightly convex pm line, which "parallels" the outer margin, is also well marked, and it is even wider than the am line. It is pale (white) rose toward the body, and dark grey toward the outer margin.

The forewing ocellus is about 6mm wide and has a circular hyaline spot ringed with brown, and then very fine black and pale rose circles.

The hindwing ocellus is 11mm wide and has rings of brown (wide), black, red and rose. The pm lines, "paralleling" the outer margin, are also well marked, rose toward the body, dark grey toward the outer margin.

Bunaeopsis chromata male (verso), by Philippe Darge,
Image on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are probably at least generations per year with moths on the wing in April (PD) and November (TK). Bunaeopsis chromata larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females have not been collected, but it is expected they scent at night and have a very strong ovipositing urge.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

The life history is unknown. Mature larvae, however, pupate in subterranean chambers.

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.

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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.

The genus name Bunaeopsis, indicates a similarity ('opsis' = looks like) to the Bunaea genus. That name is from the Greek and refers to a lobed hill-dweller.

The species name chromata probably refers to very bright colouration and white line on the forewing and hindwing wing ventral surfaces.