Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast, in western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia, has not been a peaceful place since 1999. Several attempted coups, some successful, some not, have kept the country in a constant state of turmoil.

Slightly larger than New Mexico, Ivory Coast has a varied climate: tropical along the coast and semiarid in the far north. There are three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), and hot and wet (June to October).

Most of the land is flat with some undulating plains. There are mountains in the northwest, with Mont Nimba the highest point at 1,752 m.

The country is fairly rich in natural resources but deforestation is becoming a major problem.

Human activity is centered in the coastal area except for the capital city, Yamoussoukro. Otherwise, the country is largely uninhabited.

Ivory Coast probably has a diversified Saturniidae population. Unfortunately the country is an illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption. It is also known as a transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for Europe and South Africa. Packages out of Ivory Coast to U.S. or Canadian destinations would likely be opened and inspected by Customs. There should be no problem, however, with shipments of dead specimens.

Below is an active checklist for Ivory Coast. Teemu Klemetti (TK) has been especially helpful. Many species reported are taken from Alain van Vaive (AVV) and Felix Stumpf (FS) pricelists for dead specimens.

The Attacini spin cocoons; the Urotini and the Bunaeini are earth pupators whose larvae are often used for food. I am also expecting that this list will be expanded to include more of the Orthogonioptilum and probably species from other genera as well. Help is always appreciated.

Attacini: Epiphora boolana TK Epiphora vacuna TK Urotini: Eustera brachyura AVV Pselaphelia neglecta PD Bunaeini: Aurivillius jolyanorum TB Aurivillius triramis Bunaea alcinoe WO Cirina butyrospermi AVV Gonimbrasia colorata AVV Gonimbrasia hecate FS Gonimbrasia occidentalis FS Imbrasia epimethea FS Imbrasia obscura FS Lobobunaea acetes FS Lobobunaea phaedusa FS Ludia orinoptera styx FS Nudaurelia alopia FS Nudaurelia dione FS Nudaurelia eblis FS Pseudim. deyrollei AVV Pseudobunaea illustris FS Pseudobunaea irius AVV Pseudobunaea meloui AVV Pseudobunaea t. neglecta PD Pseudobunaea t. pratorum PD Micragonini: Carnegia mirabilis FS Holocerina angulata FS Ludia orinoptena styx WO M. agathylla FS Micragone nenia AVV Ortho. bouyeri AVV Ortho. brunneum PD Ortho. chaminadei AVV Ortho. falcatissimum AVV Ortho. nimbaense AVV Ortho. occidentalis PD

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