Argema kuhnei
Updated as per Pinhey's Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972, January 4, 2006
Updated as per D'Abrera's Saturniidae Mundi Part III, 1998, January 4, 2006
Updated as per Bouyer's Catalogue of African Saturniidae, 1999, January 4, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with Rolf Oberprieler and Thierry Bouyer 2004-2005, January 4, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with David Rolfe (Argema kuhnei; Zambia: Mbala; August-September; 100-112mm); April 20, 2010; March 19, 2011

Argema kuhnei
ar-GHEE-muhmmKEWN-eye
Pinhey, 1969

Argema kuhnei, male, Mbala, Zambia,
100mm, September 1, 1971, courtesy of Dave T. Rolfe.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Genus: Argema, Wallengren, 1858

MIDI MUSIC

"Moon River"
copyright C. Odenkirk
MIDI CITY

ON.OFF
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DISTRIBUTION:

Argema kuhnei kuhnei (wingspan: males: 100-102mm; females: 109-112mm) flies in
north eastern Zambia: Mbala.

It is probably subspecies katangensis that files in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and north western Zambia. This species flies in semi montane, woody habitats.

Forewing length is about 60mm. The tail itself is about 50mm long with total length of hindwing, including tail at about 95mm.

In this species, the outer margin of the forewing is very straight, not falcate, and the ground colour is chrome yellow with some greenish tints in the basal area. Wing markings are heavy and contrasting.

Thierry Bouyer indicates (2005) that genitalia and larvae are also different than those of Argema mimosae.

Argema kuhnei, male, Mbala, Zambia,
102mm, September 6, 1970, courtesy of Dave T. Rolfe.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Dave Rolfe reports an August-September flight in Mbala, northeastern Zambia.

Larvae feed on Monotes katangensis.

Argema kuhnei, male, Mbala, Zambia,
102mm, August, 1973, courtesy of Dave T. Rolfe.

ECLOSION:

Argema kuhnei, female, Mbala, Zambia,
112mm, August 25, 1970, courtesy of Dave T. Rolfe.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in males by emitting air-bourne pheromones at night.

Argema kuhnei, female, Mbala, Zambia,
109mm, August 29, 1971, courtesy of Dave T. Rolfe.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Cocoons are white and airy and hang from branches by a strong peduncle.

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.

Monotes katangensis.......

Yellow wood

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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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

The genus name comes from the Greek word 'argema", meaning a cataract in the eye. This is probably meant to be descriptive of the thick rings around the eyespots of these moths.

The species name "kuhnei", is honourific for K. W. Kuhne.