Tagoropsis rougeoti
Updated as per Pinhey's Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972, April 25, 2006
Updated as per Bouyer's Catalogue of African Saturniidae, 1999, April 25, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with and images from Thierry Bouyer, May 2006

Tagoropsis rougeoti
tagh-gor-OPS-ihsMRUE-jzoh-eye
Fletcher, 1952

Tagoropsis rougeoti male, courtesy of Thierry Bouyer.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
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: Urotini, Packard, 1902
Genus: Tagoropsis, R. Felder, 1874

DISTRIBUTION:

Tagoropsis rougeoti flies in Kiyezi, Uganda, and in Tanzania. Thierry Bouyer confirms that it also flies in Kenya and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Although the following moth is very much "unmarked", I think it is Tagoropsis rougeoti, mostly based on location and a forewing apex that seems not at all produced. Markings on many of the Tagoropsis species are quite variable.

Tagoropsis rougeoti male?, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda,
courtesy of David Bygott, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Tagoropsis rougeoti larvae probably feed on Allophyllus africanus, Allophylus melanocarpus, Allophylus subcoriaceus and Schmidelia africana.

Tagoropsis rougeoti female, courtesy of Thierry Bouyer.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females emit an airbourne pheromone at night and males track the scent with their antennae by flying in a zigzag pattern into the wind.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Mature larvae 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.

Allophyllus africanus
Allophylus melanocarpus.....
Allophylus subcoriaceus
Schmidelia africana

Allophyllus africanus
Allophylus melanocarpus
Allophylus subcoriaceus
Schmidelia africana

Return to Tagoropsis genus

Return to Main Saturniidae Index

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.

The word Tagoropsis means a 'leading aspect', probably indicating ease of identification (Pinhey).

The species name, 'rougeoti', is honourific for Rougeot.