DISTRIBUTION: Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta (wingspan: males: 115-140mm-142mm (KP); females: probably larger) flies in Sierra Leone; Liberia; Ivory Coast; Ghana; Togo; Benin; Nigeria; Cameroon; Central African Republic: Sangha: Ndoki PN; Gabon; PR Congo; possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire); and Zambia: Copper Belt (WO?). It might also fly in Guinea on Bioko Island. Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta, courtesy of Ken Thorne

Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta, male, Alembe, Province Moyen-Ogooue, Gabon,
20th to 24th January 2003, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner. (wingspan: 142mm)

Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta, male, Elone, Sud Province, Cameroon,
February 2006, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner. (wingspan: 130mm)

Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta, male (verso, Elone, Sud Province, Cameroon,
February 2006, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner. (wingspan: 130mm)

Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta male, 142mm, Cameroon,
courtesy of Kelly Price.

Pseucobunnaea tyrrhena neglecta, male, Franceville, Gabon,
October 12, 2007, wingspan 115mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

Pseucobunnaea tyrrhena neglecta, male (verso), Franceville, Gabon,
October 12, 2007, wingspan 115mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta moth probably broods continuously as specimens have been taken in the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, December.

Visit Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta male (recto and verso), Franceville, Gabon, May 9, 2008, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

Larvae probably feed on Brachystegia randi, Pterocarpus, Uapaca and Berlinia. Brachystegia spiciformis and Populus would probably also serve as larval hosts.

Pseudobunaea tyrrhena neglecta, female, Tanzania, courtesy of Eric van Schayck

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:

Little is known about the life-cycle of this species.

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, tyrrhena, meaning winding river, is descriptive of the wavy lines on the forwings.

I do not know the reason for the subspecies name.

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.

Berlinia Brachystegia randi...... Pterocarpus Uapaca Brachystegia spiciformis...... Populus

Mnondo Msasa Mukwa Wild loquat Msasa Poplar

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Pseudobunaea Index

Goto African Saturniidae Directory

Goto Main Saturniidae Index