Imbrasia eblis
Updated as per Pinhey's Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972, May 10, 2006
Updated as per Bouyer's Catalogue of African Saturniidae, 1999, May 10, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with Thierry Bouyer, June, 2006
Updated as per reprints provided by Philippe Darge, July 2006
Updated as per personal communication with Jean-Louis Albert, September, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with Stefan Naumann, March, 2008
Updated as per SATURNIDES DE COTE D'IVOIRE (SCI), S.HERDER, X.LERY, G.FEDIERE, NKKOUASSI, 1989; September 19, 2010
Updated as per Saturnafrica #8, February 2011, Darge (Ouesso, northern Congo); February 1, 2014

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis
nood-aur-REEL-ee-uhmmEB-lis
(Strecker, 1876) Imbrasia eblis

Imbrasia eblis (male), Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Bunaeini, Packard, 1902
Genus: Imbrasia, Hubner, 1819

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DISTRIBUTION:

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis (wingspan: males: approximately 161mm; females: ) flies in
Cameroon. Julius Busingye reports it from
Uganda. Felix Stumpf reports it from
Ivory Coast: confirmed by SCI for Azaguie (February and November) and Mount Tonkoui (March). There are also reports from
Gabon: Haut-Ogooue: Franceville (PD & JLA);
Republic of Central Africa (AVV);
Democratic Republic of the Congo (TB). Stefan Naumann reports it from
western Kenya: Kakmega;
Sierre Leone;
Ghana; and
Benin. I suspect it also flies in Togo and Nigeria.

The caterpillar is depicted on a People's Republic of the Congo postage stamp. Phillipe Darge confirms it in Ouesso.

Thierry Bouyer treats this moth as Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis.

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis, Democratic Republic of the Congo, courtesy of Heinz Rothacher.

FLIGHT TIMES AND LARVAL HOSTS:

Philippe Darge reports them on the wing in Franceville, Gabon, in October-November, 1963. Jean-Louis Albert reports them on the wing in August, 2006, also in Franceville, so it appears there are at least two broods annually. Stefan Naumann reports moths taken in March, May and June. In Ivory Coast they have been taken in February-March and November.

Gonimbrasia eblis larval hosts include Alchornea, Mangifera indica, Cassia and Citrus aurantium (SN).

Nudaurelia eblis male (recto and verso), Franceville, Gabon,
wingspan: 161mm, August 26, 2006, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Both sexes are active at night. Males come in to lights around midnight when females are scenting.

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis courtesy of Teemu Klemetti.

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis (female), Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Pupation is in the soil in a subterranean chamber.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, on Manotes expansa,
Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, on Chaetocarpus africanus,
Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo, August 19, 2006.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, on Mangifera indica,
Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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.

Alchornea
Cassia
Chaetocarpus africanus .......
Citrus aurantium
Mangifera indica
Manotes expansa

Alchornea
Cassia
Chaetocarpus africanus
Bitter oragne
Mango
Diladila

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