DISTRIBUTION: The Straight Barred Atlas, Epiphora rectifascia, (forewing length: approximately 62-76mm; wingspan: males: 130mm; females: ) is one of the few Attacini in Africa. This species flies in West and Central Africa and is readily taken in Cameroon and the Central African Republic: Sangha: Ndoki PN (SA#12). It is celebrated on a postage stamp from Gabon and Sebastian Brandner sent me a nice image from Moyen-Ogooue Province, Gabon. Teemu Klemetti reports it from southwestern Uganda: Bwindi Impentrable Forest. Thierry Bouyer reports it from Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I am sure it must also fly in Congo: Ouesso, confirmed (SA#8), and it likely flies in Rwanda. Pinhey, 1972, reports it has been taken in Zambia, near Luanshya. D'Abrera indicates Ivory Coast to Nigeria and Cameroon and east to Kenya, with the possibility of Angola as well.

Epiphora rectifascia, Gabon, January 2003, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Visit Epiphora rectifascia male and female, Monte de Cristal, Estuaire, western Gabon.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Gabon specimens have been taken in January, March and November. I supect there is a similar flight season in other countries of similar latitude.

Jean-Louis Albert reports a specimen from Franceville, March 5, 2005 and another March 10, 2007.

Philippe Darge reports them from November and January in Franceville, Haut-Ogooue, Gabon.

Michelle Constanza, via Antoine Guyonnet, reports January and March flights of Epiphora rectifascia in Yokadouma, Est Province, Cameroun.

Epiphora rectifascia larvae feed on Croton, Maesopsis emini, Ziziphus mauretanicus and Ziziphus mauritiana. Thierry Bouyer (April 2005) indicates the moth depicted to the right is Epiphora rectifascia. Note the subtle differences in fw pm line and shape/size of hyaline areas. Also note red scaling outside fw pm line. The "teeth" near the forewing outer margin also seem distinctive. Image courtesy of John Marchant.

Epiphora rectifascia undersides, Cameroon, by Bill Oehlke

Note the red scaling outside the relatively straight, broad, outer white bands.

The hindwing hyaline area is large and ovate, indented on the bottom in the male, without the indentation in the female.

Epiphora rectifascia male, Salonga National Park,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, courtesy of Kim Gjerstad.

Epiphora rectifascia, female, courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Thierry Bouyer.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Epiphora rectifascia 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.

Epiphora rectifascia female courtesy of Teemu Klemetti.

The wings of the female are more rounded than those of the male, and the hyaline spots are much larger. Copyright John Marchant. Thierry Bouyer (April 2005) indicates the moth depicted to the right is Epiphora rectifascia. Note the subtle differences in fw pm line and shape/size of hyaline areas.

Epiphora rectifascia/mineti?? female, Cameroon,
courtesy of Kelly Price

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.

Croton Maesopsis emini Ziziphus mauretanicus..... Ziziphus mauritiana.

Croton Maesopsis emini Jujube Indian jujube

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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.

The species name, "rectifascia" indicates the straight bands in the postmedian area.