DISTRIBUTION:

Gonimbrasia osiris flies in Tanzania.

Thierry Bouyer lists osiris as a subspecies of Gonimbrasia belina while Philippe Darge regards it as a distinct species.

Rolf Oberpreiler writes (March 2005), "The “Gonimbrasia” pair is Imbrasia belina osiris (Druce). I don’t think osiris is distinct from belina, which is a very variable species. There seems to be another species of the belina group in East Africa, for which the oldest name is huebneri Kirby, but typical belina extends up the east coast into Tanzania and southern Kenya, from where osiris was described (Dar-es-Salaam)."

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Gonimbrasia osiris larvae feed on Terminalia schweinfurthi and on the introduced Anacardium occidentale (cashew-nut tree).

Lorenzo Comoglio reports success on Quercus robur.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Eclosion is from underground pupae.

Both sexes fly at night with the males coming in to lights around midnight, the scenting time of the females.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larvae pupate under soil near base of trees.

Gonimbrasia osiris Tanzania, courtesy of David Bygott. ID by Philippe Darge.

The above larva was found on and fed to maturity on cashew-nut tree in Dar es Salaam 6º51'S 39º18'E.

Lorenzo Comoglio of Italy writes, "You can see a group of a fourth instar larvae on Quercus robur. Now they are at fifth instar and I hope to take a good photo to share with you and all other WLSS members. I've also attached a photo of a newly hatched larvae. I will also send you photos of G. osiris second and third instar larvae.

"The origin of the eggs is Mount Kaguru, region Dodoma, Tanzania. Information is provided by Andreas Riekert who sold me the eggs."

Gonimbrasia osiris eggs and hatchlings, Mount Kaguru, Dodomo Region, Tanzania,
on Quercus robur, courtesy of Lorenzo Comoglio.

Gonimbrasia osiris fourth instar, Mount Kaguru, Dodomo Region, Tanzania,
on Quercus robur, courtesy of Lorenzo Comoglio.

Gonimbrasia osiris fifth instar, Mount Kaguru, Dodomo Region, Tanzania,
on Quercus robur, courtesy of Lorenzo Comoglio.

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.

Anacardium occidentale ...... Quercus robur (LC) Terminalia schweinfurthi

Cashew-nut tree Pedunculate Oak or English oak Assegai wood

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In Mythology, Osiris is the ancient Egyptian god whose annual death and resurrection personified the self-renewing vitality and fertility of nature.