DISTRIBUTION:

Epiphora imperator (wingspan: males: 105-119mm; females: 87-92mm) is one of the few Attacini in
western Kenya: Kitale;
possibly northern Tanzania; and
western Uganda: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

It might also fly in Rwanda and southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Epiphora imperator, 119mm, on my home computer only.

D'Abrera (1998) indicates imperator can be distinguished from antinorii by the former having a broad hindwing band that tapers only slightly from the apex to the anal angle, whereas in antinorii the band actually widens in its bend as it approaches the anal angle.

D'Abrera also indicates antinorii is a more northerly species found in Ethiopia and Uganda, with possible southerly extensions into Kenya.

On February 11, 2010, Thierry Bouyer writes, "E. imperator must be removed from the list in Zambia, Malawi and southern Tanzania. The replacement name for imperator Rougeot (homonym of imperator Stoneham) is kipengerensis. E. imperator Stoneham remains to designate the species occuring in Western Kenya (and probably Uganda)."

Epiphora imperator, 105mm, on my home computer only.

Stefan Naumann indicates Epiphora imperator is a small brownish-red species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Epiphora imperator larvae probably feed on Citrus, Maesopsis eminii, Paullinia, Zanthoxylum macrophyllum and Fagara macrophylla.

Epiphora imperator female, 92mm, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Epiphora imperator 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 double walled and resembles the cocoon of the Hyalphora.

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.

Citrus Fagara macrophylla..... Maesopsis eminii Paullinia Zanthoxylum macrophyllum.......

Citrus East African Satin Wood Muhumula/Musira Guarana Hercules' club

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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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

"Epiphora" is a medical condition of insufficient drainage of the tear film from the eyes. The eyes are often watery, lids inflamed and crusted. I do not know the the reason(s) for the choice of Epiphora as the genus name, but perhaps the large hyaline areas on the wings of mythimnia (specimen type) with the thick white and yellow borders, were suggestive of watery, encrusted eyes.

I do not know the reason for the species name "imperator" which means commander or ruler.

Epiphora imperator female, Uganda, D'Abrera, on my home computer only.

Epiphora imperator male-underside, uganda, D'Abrera, on my home computer only.

The post discal dark band on the underside of imperator has rounded-tip projections toward the outer margin, whereas in antinorii the projections are less pronounced and more rectangular.