Micragone cana
mye-kragh-GOHN-neeMKAY-nuh
(Aurivillius, 1893) (Cyrtogone)

Micragone cana = Micragone politzari (male), Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

http://www.saturniidae-mundi.de/Oschayck/schayck.htm

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Micragonini Cockerell in Packard, 1914 (1902) Genus: Micragone, Walker, 1855

MIDI MUSIC "Moon River" copyright C. Odenkirk ON.OFF <bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

The Pale Prince, Micragone cana (wingspan: males: approximately 50mm; females: approximately 63mm), flies in Mozambique (Rikatla and Delagoa Bay = Maputo Bay), South Africa (coastal Natal only) and P. R. Congo, and possibly as far north as Burkina Faso (more likely M. politzari). Andreas Riekert sends an image from Zambia.

Thierry Bouyer also confirms it for Tanzania, Kenya: Kitale (Pinhey 1956) and Gabon so I suspect it is also in Cameroon and the Central African Republic.

Rolf Oberprieler writes, this moth is "described from Mocambique and also occurs in South Africa (coastal Natal only) and in SE Congo (Shaba/Katanga) - recorded by Seydel 1939.

"There are probably other records in the literature, esp. by Rougeot. Basquin, 1989 described a Micragone politzari from Burkina Faso, which was synonymised with cana by Bouyer (1995, I think). It's certainly similar to cana and Bouyer may be correct here, but I haven't yet checked this situation in detail. Your image from Cameroon would be of politzari rather than of true cana."

In the November Newsletter there was a request for common names used for Saturniidae by local people (Zulu) in Africa. Jane R. Walden writes, "The insects are included in the meat group: amacimbi, or emperor moth larvae, (Saturniidae), mostly Micragone cana, Bunaea alcinoe, and Cirina forda .... The amacimbi are noted as a good source of protein and thiamin and an excellent source of riboflavin and calcium. As meat, amacimbi can be prepared by either sun-drying or roasting, and salt may be added. For adding to soups, amacimbi should be cleaned, boiled for approximately 2 1/2 hours, steamed dry and fried."

The native people are more interested in the caterpillers for food than they are in the adult insects for display. I guess one species is as tasty as the next, so they are all amacimbi.

The NHM museum indicates junodi is from Rikatla, Mozambique, and T. Bouyer equates junodi with cana.

The male has a very falcate forewing, and ground colour varies from violet-brown to pale yellowish-brown. The hindwing is more yellowish with a darker spot near the anal angle.

Forewing lines are brown and thin and diffucult to see on all but fresh specimens.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies from September-October and December-January in southern portions of its range. There is a flight in February in Zambia.

Micragone cana larvae feed on Syzgium owariense, Syzgium cordatum, Syzgium guineensis and Pappea capensis.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females are larger than males, and females have a rounded forewing apex and slightly convex outer margin. They probably carry 150-180 eggs.

Micragone cana pair, Zambia, courtesy of Andreas Riekert.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Oval, off-white (dirty) eggs are deposited in arching clusters on hostplants, probably on twigs and the undersides of foliage. Incubation probably takes about twelve days.

Larvae show various colour forms and can attain lengths of 65mm.

Larvae spin flimsy cocoons in leaf litter or in tree bark crevices.

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.

Syzgium cordatum Syzgium guineensis Syzgium owariense...... Pappea

Umdoni Water Pear Water-berry tree Wild plum

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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.

Micragone comes from the Greek words for a small contest, according to Pinhey.

The reason for the species name, 'cana', is the greyish/whitish ground colour of this species (Pinhey).

Micragone cana male, Cooper and Cooper, on my home computer only

Micragone cana female, Cooper and Cooper, on my home computer only

Micragone cana larva, Cooper and Cooper, on my home computer only