DISTRIBUTION:

Bunaeopsis aurantiaca flies in Africa:
Malawi;
Tanzania;
Central African Republic;
Zambia: Copper Belt (WO?);
It has also been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Katanga: Sakania (NV).

Thierry Bouyer equates Bunaeopsis aurantiaca gabonica with the nominate subspecies, so the range should also include Gabon and probably also People's Pepublic of the Congo. Philippe Darge reports Bunaeopsis aurantiaca gabonica from the savannahs of southeastern and southern Gabon, where he reports specimens taken in October-December.

?? Bunaeopsis aurantiaca?? Malawi;
more likely hersilia or something closely related to hersilia (Bill Oehlke)

Pinhey describes B. aurantiaca as orange-red to dull red and even pinkish-ochreous with black speckling, and describes B. hersilia as having a bright, deep yellow forewing with a pink hindwing. The image directly below seems a very good match for Pinhey's description of B. aurantiaca. Other images on this page are very questionable with regard to ids, although the image at top of page might be good.

Bunaeopsis aurantiaca male, Sakania, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
February 3, 2014, courtesy of Nigel Voaden.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is only one generation per year with moths on the wing from October-December in Gabon and probably January and February elsewhere.

Bunaeopsis aurantiaca larvae are believed to favour broad-leafed grasses and reeds. Larvae are reported to feed on Bridelia micrantha.

Bunaeopsis aurantiaca female, Elliott Pinhey, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Bunaeopsis aurantiaca males are active at night and come in to lights. Females have not been collected, but it is expected they scent at night and have a very strong ovipositing urge.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

The life history is unknown but larvae are expected to feed upon broad-leafed grasses and reeds as do B. bomfordi.

Imperata cylindrica and Hyperthelia sp. are also listed as hosts.

Mature larvae excavate subterranean chambers in which to pupate.

Listed below are the primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. 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.

Bridelia micrantha....... Hyperthelia sp. Imperata cylindrica

Bridelia micrantha Hyperthelia sp. Imperata cylindrica

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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.

The genus name Bunaeopsis, indicates a similarity ('opsis' = looks like) to the Bunaea genus. That name is from the Greek and refers to a lobed hill-dweller.

The species name aurantiaca is from Latin and means "golden-hued".