DISTRIBUTION:

Gonimbrasia emini flies in Africa. Julius Busingye reports it from
Uganda. Eric van Schayck reports it
from the Central African Republic. The Natural History Museum reports it from
Cameroon.

It probably also flies in
northern People's Republic of the Congo and Thierry Bouyer confirms it in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
Kenya and
Tanzania.

Robert Lemaitre / Robert Beck confirm it from
Togo. SCI reports it in Ivory Coast: Mont Tonkoui (March, SCI), so I suspect it also flies in Ghana, Benin and Nigeria, and possibly west of Ivory Coast.

Nudaurelia emini male, Kaplimé, Togo, courtesy of Robert Beck, via Robert Lemaitre.

This moth is often classified as Nudaurelia emini.

I believe the most recent nomenclature change places this species in the Montanaurelia genus.

FLIGHT TIMES AND LARVAL HOSTS:

Gonimbrasia emini larvae feed upon Bridelia, Protea affinis, Psidium guajava, Psorospermum and Rhus.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Nudaurelia emini courtesy of Teemu Klemetti.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Nudaurelia emini eggs, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Nudaurelia emini first instar, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Nudaurelia emini second instars, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Nudaurelia emini third instar, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Nudaurelia emini fourth instars, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Nudaurelia emini fifth instar, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Nudaurelia emini fifth instar face, courtesy of Robert Lemaitre.

Nudaurelia emini fifth instar, courtesy of Robert Beck.

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.

Bridelia Liquidambar Protea affinis Psidium guajava Psorospermum....... Rhus

Bridelia Sweetgum Sugarbush Guava Psorospermum Sumac

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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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

The genus name Nudaurelia means 'naked gold' (Pinhey).

The species name "emini" is honourific for Emin.