DISTRIBUTION:

Bunaeopsis fervida (wingspan: males: 108-113mm; females: 100mm) flies in the Rungwe forests in the Mbeya Region of
southwestern Tanzania:

Bunaeopsis fervida male, Rungwe Mountains, Tanzania,
courtesy of Teemu Klemetti, "tentative" id by Bill Oehlke.

One the male, the antennae are large and a dark grey-brown.

The body and wings are a uniform bright reddish-brown, more brilliant than all the other species from the area.

The forewing outer margin is slightly convex and both the apex and the anal angle are rounded. The antemedian line is very well marked, black on the inside toward the body, and outwardly traced with a slightly broader pinkish-white band.

The post median line is slightly curved, like a flattened "S", and it is pinkish white on the inside toward the body and outwardly traced by a finer black line.

The cell is ovate with a hyaline area in the shape of a semi-circle, outlined with orange, black (very fine) and pink rings.

The larger hindwing ocellus has a circular center outlined with orange, black, red and then pink rings.

Bunaeopsis fervida male, by Phillipe Darge,
Image on my home computer only

Bunaeopsis fervida male (verso), by Phillipe Darge,
Image on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is probably only one generation per year with moths on the wing from January-March. Bunaeopsis fervida larvae are believed to favour....?

Bunaeopsis fervida female, by Phillipe Darge,
Image on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females scent at night and have a very strong ovipositing urge.

Bunaeopsis fervida female (verso), by Phillipe Darge,
Image on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

The life history is unknown, but I believe all mature Bunaeopsis 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.

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

Return to Bunaeopsis 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.

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 fervida probably refers to the vibrant colour of this species.