Epiphora leae
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Updated as per Saturnafrica fascicule #12, July 2012, Philip Darge; February 4, 2014
Updated as per personal communication with Daniel Marlos; January 13, 2016
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Epiphora leae
Darge, 2012
Epiphora leae HT male, Nguru Mts., Tanzania,
November 27, 2002, 1165m, on my home computer only.
Epiphora leae male, Usa River, Arusha, Tanzania,
courtesy of the Wood family, via Daniel Marlos,
id by Bill Oehlke, mostly due to elevation of Arusha.
This site has been created by
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.
| TAXONOMY:
Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Attacini, Blanchard, 1840
Genus: Epiphora, Wallengren, 1860
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DISTRIBUTION:
Epiphora leae (wingspan: males: 108-122mm; females: 109mm) flies in
Tanzania: Morogoro Region: Nguru Mts., Diware River, foręt humide de montagne; Kilamanjaro Region: North Pare Mountains, Vumali;
Arusha (DM) at elevations near 620-1280m.
This species is very similar to Epiphora mythimnia. It can be distinguished from both mythimnia and vicina by its much larger size.
Epiphora leae flies at higher elevation than does E. vicina, and, based on comments by Philip Darge, I do not think Epiphora mythimnia
flies as far north as northern Tanzania.
Epiphora leae HT male (verso), Nguru Mts., Morogoro Region, Tanzania,
November 27, 2002, 1165m, on my home computer only.
Visit Epiphora mythimnia Group Comparison Plate.
FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:
Specimens have been taken in April and November. There are probably additional additional flight months.
Epiphora leae larvae probably feed on Citrus, Maesopsis eminii, Paullinia, Zanthoxylum macrophyllum and Fagara macrophylla.
ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:
Epiphora leae females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in the night-flying males.
Epiphora possibly leae, female, Tanzania.
Epiphora leae AT female, Vumali, North Pare Mts., Kilamanjaro Region, Tanzania,
October 2, 2005, 1280m, on my home computer only.
Epiphora leae AT female (verso), Vumali, North Pare Mts., Kilamanjaro Region, Tanzania,
October 2, 2005, 1280m, on my home computer only.
EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:
The cocoon is double walled and resembles the cocoon of the Hyalphora.
The species name leae is honorific for a woman named Lea.
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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