DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudobunaea irius, The Irian Emperor (wingspan 100-120mm), is widely distributed from Natal, South Africa, through Transvaal and Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana into central Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Cameroon. In Namibia it occurs in Owambo, Kavango and Caprivi. It is also found in northern Botswana and Malawi. Picture at bottom of this age is from Tanzania. Insect trade listings report it as far north and west as Ivory Coast.

Alain Coache reports it from Senegal. It might ?? also be present in Ghana, Benin, Togo, Equatorial Guinea (including Bioko Island) and Nigeria.

With the advent of DNA barcoding analysis (2008), many new Saturniidae species have been named, including many Pseudobunaea species from the various mountain ranges in Tanzania.

The following link, Tanzania Pseudobunaea Comparison Chart, will hopefully help me and others to determine species as they become available for posting.

I will be using information on Wiki Species and scientific journal publications to post information and write my own descriptions of the Tanzanian Pseudobunaea. If you have digital images that you can submmit with data (wingspan, elevation, date, precise location), I will do my best to confirm your ids or offer suggestions, and will incorporate your images, credited to you, into the respective files. Please help improve the scope and accuracy of this site by submitting images. All photos remain the property of respective photographers.

Pseudobunaea irius male, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

Pseudobunaea irius female, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

Visit Pseudobunaea irius males, courtesy/copyright of Dr. Anatolij Kulak.

This species is highly variable throughout its range. The following images were sent to me by Jiri Zabokrtsky. The moths are all from Comoe env. of Ivory Coast. The genus Pseudobunaea is in need of revision. Thierry Bouyer indicates (March 12, 2006) that the specimens are most likely subspecies of P. irius or P. heyeri. I will also post them to the P. heyeri file.

I lean toward P. irius for the third image due to the smaller forewing clear spots and straighter outer lines on the forewing.

The following image from Senegal is identified by Thierry Bouyer as P. irius.

Pseudobunaea irius male, Senegal,
courtesy of Alain Coache, id by Thierry Bouyer.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies from October to November in Transvaal and in February in Namibia.

Pseudobunaea Irius.

Jan-Willem Smienk reports a November 30, 2009, flight in Hazyview, Mpumalange, South Africa, not far outside the southern gate of Kruger National Park.

Pseudobunaea irius, Hazyview, Mpumalange, South Africa,
November 30, 2009, courtesy of Jan-Willem Smienk.

Larvae feed upon Msasa, Munondo, and Camel's Foot. Pinus patula is also listed as a larval host.

Pseudobunaea irius, female, Kenya, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Pseudobunaea irius moths pair after dark and both sexes are attracted to lights.

Pseudobunaea irius female, Kenya, copyright Martin Jagelka.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Pearly white, oval eggs are laid in small clusters of 2-4 on foliage.

Orange-brown first instar larvae are gregarious but become solitary and green as they develop up to 80 mm.

Pupation is in the soil.

Pseudobunaea irius, second instar, courtesy of Franz and Julian Renner

Pseudobunaea irius, Tanzania, fourth instar on Quercus robur, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Pseudobunaea irius, Tanzania, fifth instar on Quercus robur, courtesy of Alan Marson.

Larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

Pseudobunaea irius more likely P. santini, October 29, 2004,
Usumbara Mountains, Tanzania, courtesy of Norbert Cordeiro.

Larval Food Plants

Acacia mearnsii Brachystegia spiciformis..... Erythrina lysistemon Eucalyptus Julbernardia globifera Piliostigma thonningi Pinus patula Populus deltoides Quercus Quercus robur

Black wattle Msasa Common Coral Tree Bluegums Munondo Camel's Foot Patula Pine Match poplar Oak Pedunculate/Common/English Oak

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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.

"Pseudobunaea" is derived from "pseudo" = false or like and Bunaea = "Hill Dwellers".

Many of these moths were placed, at one time, with Lobobunaea, but Pseudobunaea lack spines (present on Pseudobunaea tibia) on the legs, and the hindwing eyespot is grey and/or black without the coppery colour of the Lobobunaea.

The species name, irius, is probably from mythology where Iris is the goddess of the rainbow. (Pinhey)