DISTRIBUTION:

Bunaeopsis dido flies in
Burkina Faso: Bale Province: Boromo (JK).

Thierry Bouyer lists this moth as "Incertae sedis" in his 1999 catalogue.

Incertae sedis means "of uncertain position (seat)". It is a phrase used to define a taxonomic group where the broader relationships are unknown or undefined.

Thus, Bunaeopsis dido may be a distinct species, but it might also be a synonym for other similar moths going by a different name. More scientific study is needed to determine the relationships.

Bunaeopsis dido male, Boromo, Bale Province, Burkina Faso,
August 2005, courtesy of John Kamps.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is possibly only one generation per year with moths on the wing in July-August.

Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Bunaeopsis dido males are probably active at night and probably come in to lights. 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.

I believe all mature Buanaeopsis larvae excavate subterranean chambers and pupate underground.

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 dido is probably from Greek and Roman sources, where Dido or Elissa appears as the founder and first Queen of Carthage (in modern-day Tunisia). She is best known from the account given by the Roman poet Virgil in his Aeneid.