DISTRIBUTION:

Epiphora hassoni (wingspan: males: 115mm; females: ??) is one of the few Attacini in Africa. It has been taken in southern parts of the Democratic Repulic of the Congo: Katanga: Upemba National Park. The National Park is located in a lush area with numerous lakes, including Lake Upemba. It is on the Kibara Plateau (1,750m - 1,800m), bordered by the Lualaba River. The grasslands and marshy plains are bordered by Uapaca-dominated woodland with Brachystegia and Isoberlinia woodlands on the slopes of the plateau and around Lake Upemba.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in late October.

Epiphora hassoni larval hosts are unknown.

Epiphora hassoni male (verso), Katanga, D. R. Congo, 115mm, October, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Epiphora hassoni females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in the night-flying males.The pair remains coupled until the following evening.

The wings of the female are more rounded than those of the male.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

The cocoon is probably double walled, resembling the cocoon of the Hyalphora species.

The species name is honourific for collector M. Hasson.

Larval Food Plants

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.

Discoglypremna caloneura......

Euphorbiaceae

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