DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudantheraea discrepans (forewing length: males: 70-71mm; females: probably larger; wingspan: males: approx. 116-125-130mm; females: approx. 138-144mm) flies in
Ivory Coast: Environ d'Abidjan (November), Adiopodoumé (January, April), Forêt du Banco (October), Forêt de Yapo (December);
Ghana;
Togo;
Benin;
Nigeria;
Niger;
Cameroon: Sud Province: Elone (SB), Centre Province: Yaounde (FL); Ebogo (DM); South West Province: Mt. Cameroon (FL); Est Province: Yokadouma (MC/AG);
Gabon: Haut-Ogooue: Franceville (JLA);
P. R. Congo: Oesso (SA#8);
D. R. Congo: Bomane, Lower Aruwimi; and
Equatorial Guinea.

Pseudantheraea discrepans male (wingspan 120mm), Ghana, courtesy of Henrik Bloch.

Thierry Bouyer, 1999, equates arnobia (Westwood, 1881) (Saturnia); daphne Weymer, 1892; arenosa (Packard, 1914) (Bunaea); ? scrion Seitz, 1928; pulverulenta Dufrane, 1953; and extrema Dufrane, 1953 with Pseudantheraea discrepans.

Thierry Bouyer (identification) reports this species is quite common in southern Cameroon. Thierry indicates P. imperator is a larger, brighter species, with more rounded wings and an external margin of the forewing that is not as concave as in P. discrepans. The genitalia are very distinct between P discrepans and P. imperator.

When one sees the two Pseudantheraea species side by side, the differences are obvious as per this comparison image, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner:

Pseudantheraea discrepans left; Pseudanthereaea imperator right,
wingspan 112mm, wingspan 124mm, respectively, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Pseudantheraea discrepans, Franceville, Gabon, November 12, 2005, wingspan: 125mm;
courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert; identification by Thierry Bouyer and Philippe Darge.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Jean-Louis Albert reports a specimen from Franceville, Gabon, November 12, 2005 and a female (recto and verso) taken December 2, 2007. Sebastian Brandner sends these images from Elone (Sud Province), Cameroon, from a July flight, so it appears there are at least two broods anually. Forbi Lucas reports an August flight in Cameroon. Dave marsden reports an October 2012 flight in Ebogo, Centre Province, Cameroon. If I am ready data correctly there is a May flight in Yokadouma, Est Province, Cameroon, via information from Michelle Constanza, via Antoine Guyonnet. K D Dijkstra also reports a May flight in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Pseudantheraea discrepans male, Elone, July 2006,
wingspan 116mm, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Pseudantheraea discrepans male (verso), Elone, July 2006,
wingspan 116mm, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Pseudantheraea discrepans male, Yaounde, central Cameroon,
6/8/2010, id by Bill Oehlke

Pseudantheraea discrepans female, Mt. Cameroon, southwest Cameroon,
8/8/2010, id by Bill Oehlke

Pseudantheraea discrepans male, 125-130mm, Ebogo, Centre Province, Cameroon,
October, 2012, 317m, courtesy of Dave Marsden.

Pseudantheraea discrepans larvae feed upon Poga, Terminalia, Uapaca, Mangifera and Fagus.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in males.

Pseudantheraea discrepans female courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Pseudantheraea discrepans female, Elone, July 2006,
wingspan 144mm, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Pseudantheraea discrepans female, Bomane, Lower Aruwimi, DRC,
May 20, 2010, courtesy of K D Dijkstra.

Pseudantheraea discrepans male, Bomane, Lower Aruwimi, DRC,
May 20, 2010, courtesy of K D Dijkstra.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Mature larvae descend tree trunks an pupate in subterranean chambers.

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.

Caloncoba welwitschii Coelocaryon botryoides Fagus Mangifera Poga Ricinodendron heudelotii....... Terminalia Uapaca guineensis

Lizinzi Ebonabona/Bobona Beech Mango Inoi (Nigeria), Ngale (Cameroon), Ovoga, Afo (Gabon) Bosongo Assegai wood Wild loquat/Lisenge

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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.

"Antheraea" is derived from either the Latin "anthra" referring to pollen held in the anther (top part of stamen = male part of flower) or from the Greek feminine of "anthros" meaning flowery. There may be a link to the large and feathery antennae which distinguish many of the males of the Antheraea genus.

Males of the Pseudantheraea genus do not have large feathery antennae, but they do somewhat resemble some of the Antheraea species from southeast Asia.

The species name, discrepans, means "different", according to Pinhey.

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