Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) macrothyris
Updated as per personal communication with Mike Buczkowski (southern Tanzania: Mbeya and Mtwara Regions; December-January); April 2010
Updated as per Saturnafrica #8 (Zambia: Central Province: Kasanka N. P.), February 2011;; January 31, 2014
Updated as per personal communication with Vivienne Croisette, via Daniel Marlos; December 16, 2015

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) macrothyris
(Rothshild, 1906) Bunaea

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) macrothyris male, Umwinsidale, Harare, Zimbabwe,
December 15, 2015, courtesy of Vivienne Croisette, via Daniel Marlos.

Nudaurelia macrothyris courtesy of Frans Desmet,
Royal Museum for Central Africa , Tervuren, Belgium

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] 1816 or
Genus: Nudaurelia Rothschild, 1895

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Large-Eyed Emperor, Nudaurelia macrothyris (wingspan 15-16 cm), flies from Natal and Transvaal in
South Africa
to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe),
Malawi,
Angola,
Zambia: Central Province: Kasanka N. P.,
CAR and
southern Tanzania: Mbeya (1400m); Mtwara (440m)?

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo it is known as Ligegele.

Nudaurelia macrothyris male, Zambia, courtesy of Minetti Robert.

Nudaurelia macrothyris female, Zambia, courtesy of Minetti Robert.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Mike Buczkowski reoports a December-January flight in southern Tanzania.

Philippe Darge reports a November flight in Zambia.

Nudaurelia macrothyris larvae feed on Julbernardia and Brachystegia and on apple and plum. It has also been reported from DRC on Albizia adianthifolia, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Amphimas pterocarpoides and Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum.

Visit Nudaurelia macrothyris male, female and verso male, southern Tanzania, courtesy of Mike Buczkowski.

Nudaurelia macrothyris pair, courtesy of John Marchant.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females have finer antennae and much more rounded forewings than males.

Imbrasia macrothyris female, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Mature larva pupate in subterranean chambers.

Imbrasia macrothyris courtesy of Andreas Riekert.

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.

Albizia adianthifolia
Amphimas pterocarpoides
Brachystegia randii
Brachystegia spiciformis
Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum.......
Julbernardia
Pentaclethra macrophylla
Piptadeniastrum africanum
Prunus
Pyrus malus
Ricinodendron heudelotii

Libamba
Ekanga
Msasa
Msasa
Bohulu
Mnondo
Bosanza
Bokungu
Cherry/Plum
Apple
Munguella, Essessang, Bofeko, Wama, Okhuen, Kishongo, Djansang, Essang, Ezezang, Njasang

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