DISTRIBUTION:

Bunaeopsis phidias (forewing length: 55-60mm) flies in Zambia and Tanzania, Africa. Thierry Bouyer reports it from both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Malawi.

This moth is much like B. licharbas, but the inner line on the forewing is only obtusely angled. Sometimes it is heavily speckled with black, but more often it is a uniform palish yellow brown to dark chocolate brown.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Bunaeopsis phidias larvae feed on reed-like grasses.

Bunaeopsis phidias female, Elliott Pinhey, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Bunaeopsis phidias larvae feed on reed-like grasses.

mature larvae 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.

grasses.....

grasses

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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 phidias is the name of the architect who built the Parthenon and the statue of Zeus.