Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae
Updated as per personal communication with Dr. Andrea Sciarretta, (Bale Mountains, 2350m, February, 89-99mm): October 15, 2010

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae
Rougeot, 1975,

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae male, Ethiopia, courtesy of Cyril Di Gennaro,
id by Thierry Bouyer, more likely Gonimbrasia species (WO?).

Nudaurelia zaodeae female, Bale Mountains, Harenna Forest, Ethiopia,
89mm, February 20, 2010, 2350m, courtesy of Andrea Sciaretta.

Nudaurelia zaodeae female (verso), Bale Mountains, Harenna Forest, Ethiopia,
89mm, February 20, 2010, 2350m, courtesy of Andrea Sciaretta.

I am no expert, but after studying the five images of moths depicted on this page, I believe the image courtesy of Cyril Di Gennaro is more likely a Gonimbrasia (Gonimbrasia) species rather than a Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) species. I believe Thierry Bouyer's initial determination as zaodeae was probably based on general overall patterning and color of the moth, rather than on specific details. True zaodeae is probably not well known.

The four moths from Dr. Andrea Sciarretta are more likely Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) species, based on dorsal am line, dorsal hindwing ocellus and overall ventral patterning. The female is probably a true Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae, while the male is also probably a Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) species, possibly a sexually dimorphic zaodeae, possibly ungemachti, possibly something else I do not have listed. Bill Oehlke

I am now going to also display the Cyril Di Gennaro image on some of the other Ethiopian Gonimbrasia pages. It may be a couple of years before all this gets straightened out, but I believe the determinations will eventually be clarified and corrected.

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: Nudaurelia Rothschild, 1895

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DISTRIBUTION:

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae (wingspan: males: 99mm; females: 89mm (AS)) flies in Ethiopia: Bale Mountains, Harenna Forest, 2350 m (AS).

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae male, Bale Mountains, Harenna Forest, Ethiopia,
99mm, 2350m, February 20, 2010, Leg. Parisi, courtesy of Andrea Sciarretta,
id help from Thierry Bouyer, slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Either Nudaurelia zaodeae is a very variable species, or one of the identifications above is in error. The forewing am lines and the hindwing ocellus are very different. I think the moth at top of page is a Gonimbrasia (Gonimbrasia) species, possibly even Gonimbrasia belina abayana.

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae male, Bale Mountains, Harenna Forest, Ethiopia,
99mm, 2350m, February 20, 2010, Leg. Parisi, courtesy of Andrea Sciarretta,
id help from Thierry Bouyer, slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

I do not know if both the dark female and the light coloured male are the same species. If so, it likely indicates a sexual dimorphism within the species. I recently saw images with a dark basal and median area, but a much lighter postmedian area. i would not be surprised if natural hibridization occurs between ungemachti and zaodeae.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae moth flies in February (AS).

Larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Eclosion is from underground pupae.

Both sexes fly at night with the males coming in to lights around midnight, the scenting time of the females.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Mature larvae pupate in subterranean chambers.

Peter Bruce-Jones sent me the larva below for identification. I think it is either Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) ungemachti or Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) zaodeae, but it also could be one of the Gonimbrasia (Gonimbrasia) species, or something not yet officially described.

Nudaurelia species ???, Wondo Genet, southwestern Ethiopia,
approximately 1723m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

Although the larva depicted above is very similar to the larva depicted by Cooper and Cooper, 2002, as Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) gueinzii, I believe gueinzii is limited to South Africa, probably has smaller spiracular circles, and probably has black anal plate and shield.

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.

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