DISTRIBUTION: Eudaemonia troglophylla (wingspan: approximately 55-60mm) flies in Africa, quite commonly in Cameroon: Est Province: Yokadouma; and Gabon: Haut-Ogooue: Franceville; People's Republic of the Congo: Ouesso (SA#8); and Central African Republic: Sangha: Ndoki PN (SA#12). This species is honoured on a postage stamp from the Republic of Central Africa, and Thierry Bouyer confirms it from Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon. The Natural History Museum reports it from eastern Nigeria (Old Calabar). SCI reports it from Ivory Coast: Adiopodoumé (September) and Barrage d'Ayamé (January); so I suspect it is also present in Ghana, Togo and Benin, and possibly further west of Ivory Coast. Both sexes have a dark median area, and considerably lighter (pinkish) basal and post median/submarginal areas, especially near the apex and the anal angle. The pm line is very convex, following the line of the outer margin. Males seem to have but a few eyepots on the forewing while females have an abundance of eyespots/clearspots on all wings.

Eudaemonia troglophylla female, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Eudaemonia troglophylla female, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Eudaemonia troglophylla male, courtesy of Martin Jagelka,
posed specimen, digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larval hosts are unknown.

Sometimes this species is seen in great numbers at lights, but the moths usually don't appear much before 3:00 am. Sebastian Brandner indicates that, in Gabon, he collects most of his males between 3:00 and 4:00 am.

There are probably at least two or three broods each year.

Jean-Louis Albert reports them on the wing in Franceville, Gabon, in August. Charles Bordelon has sent an image of a specimen taken in November in Cameroon. Michelle Constanza records a November 29, 2010 flight in Yokadouma, Est Province, Cameroon.

SCI reports it from
Ivory Coast: Adiopodoumé (September) and Barrage d'Ayamé (January).

I believe the extensive hyaline spots on the forewings are indicative of females.

Eudaemonia troglophylla, Franceville, Gabon, August 23, 2006,
wingspan: 60mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert, id by Bill Oehlke.

Eudaemonia argus or E. troglophylla male courtesy of Bernhard Jost.

Although the above specimen was sent to me as E. argus, Thierry Bouyer identifies (April 2005) it as Eudaemonia trogophylla.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in males.

Female, courtesy of Bernhard Jost.

Although the above specimen was sent to me as E. argus, Thierry Bouyer identifies it (April 2005) as Eudaemonia trogophylla.

Eudaemonia trolgphylla male, Yokadouma, Est Province, Cameroon,
November 29, 2010, courtesy of Michelle Constanza, via Antoine Guyonnet.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

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.

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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.

The species name "trogophylla" comes from the Greek words "trogo" and "phylla" which mean "to gnaw" and "leaves", respectively.

The genus name, Eudaemonia, means "a state of well being". (Pinhey, 1972)