DISTRIBUTION:

Holocerina occidentalis (wingspan: males: 50-55-58mm; females: 79mm / forewing length: males: 24-29mm; females: 39-40mm), flies in
Guinea Conakry = Republic of Guinea: Forest of Diécké;
Ivory Coast; Ghana; Sierra Leone; Liberia; Gambia; Guinea-Bissau
and possibly other surrounding countries in western Africa.

Holocerina occidentalis male, 55mm,
on my home computer only.

Holocerina occidentalis male, 50mm, Ghana,
on my home computer only.

Holocerina occidentalis male, 54mm, Republic of Guinea,
on my home computer only.

This moth is very similar to Holocerina angulata (outward projecting "tooth" in am line), and possibly it replaces angulata throughout most of western Africa. I am not sure where the range of H. angulata ends in western Africa.

Holocerina occidentalis male, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have thus far been taken in May.

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.

Holocerina occidentalis female, 79mm,
on my home computer only.

The female has an outward projecting tooth in the am line, a feature of H. angulata, but she also has dark fringe patches at ends of forewing veins, a feature of agomensis.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated 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.

The species name, occidentalis, is indicative of its range in western Africa.