Holocerina nilotica
Updated as per Pinhey's Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972, January 7, 2006
Updated as per Bouyer's Catalogue of African Saturniidae, 1999, January 7, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with Thierry Bouyer, May, 2006

Holocerina nilotica
hol-os-ser-EE-nuhmnye-lah-TIK-uh
(Jordan, 1922) (Holocera)

Holocerina nilotica male, 54mm, Uganda, on my home computer only.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Micragonini Cockerell in Packard, 1914 (1902)
Genus: Holocerina, Pinhey, 1956

MIDI MUSIC

"Moon River"
copyright C. Odenkirk

ON.OFF
<bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Thierry Bouyer indicates Holocerina nilotica (wingspan: males: 54-55mm; females: 67mm) flies in Tanzania. It may also fly northward into Uganda (confirmed by BOLD SYSTEMS) along the Nile River.

Holocerina nilotica male, 55mm, Uganda, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Holocerina nilotica larvae probably feed on Bauhinia reticulata, Brachystegia, Laburnum, Monotes glaberi, Protea, Uapaca kirkiana and Uapaca nitida

Holocerina nilotica female, 67mm, Uganda, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with an airbourne pheromone, which is detected and tracked in flight via the males' highly developed antennae.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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.

Bauhinia reticulata
Brachystegia
Laburnum
Monotes glaberi
Protea
Uapaca kirkiana.......
Uapaca nitida

Kanchan
Msasa
Beantree
Yellow wood
Sugar bush
Wild loquat
Wild loquat

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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.

Holocerina is a modification of the Greek 'Holocera' which means entirely waxy.

I do not know the reason for the species name, 'nilotica', but it may indicate "occuring along the Nile River".