DISTRIBUTION: Bunaeopsis zaddachi flies in Tanzania, and it also possibly flies in southern Kenya as per the specimen to the right from Nairobi. The lack of dark scaling in the hindwing outer margin may be a variable character. Thierry Bouyer reports it from both Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. John Kamps reports them from Burundi. I believe there are also likely populations in Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe: Chipinge: Mount Selinda. Subspecies Bunaeopsis zaddachi lutea flies in the Congo. Thierry Bouyer at one time reports this subspecies as "Incertae sedis".

Bunaeopsis zaddachi has orange scaling all along the inner margin of the hindwing, whereas the same area in Bunaeopsis oubie is pink and grey.

Bunaeopsis francottei (more likely zaddachi group (TB)) male, 108mm, Congo,
courtesy of Kelly Price,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke; revised to zaddachi group by Thierry Bouyer.

I cannot find a perfect match for the Kelly Price image above. It seems closest to francottei by location and appearance, but I note very small hyaline centers in all ocelli in Kelly's image. Thierry indicates it is probably from the zaddachi group.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

John Kamps reports a May flight in Burundi.

Bunaeopsis zaddachi male, Mount Selinda, Chipinge, Zimbabwe,
courtesy of Philippe Brems, id by Thierry Bouyer.

Bunaeopsis zaddachi larvae feed on grasses, Euclea, Sporobulus and Heteropogon.

Bunaeopsis zaddachi male, Burundi,
May 15, 1995, courtesy of John Kamps.

Bunaeopsis zaddachi male, Kolwezi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
courtesy/copyright of Angela Hertrampf, id by Bill Oehlke

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Bunaeopsis zaddachi courtesy of Jean-Michel Maes.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Bunaeopsis zaddachi larvae feed on grasses, Euclea, Sporobulus and Heteropogon. Mature larvae excavate subterranean chambers in which to pupate.

Bunaeopsis zaddachi larva from Pinhey's
Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972,
on my home computer only.

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 Euclea Sporobulus Heteropogon.......

grasses Ebony Giant rat's tail grass Tangle head grass

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