Bunaeopsis fenestricula
Updated as per Bouyer's Catalogue of African Saturniidae, 1999, April 5, 2006
Updated as per personal communication with John Kamps (Boromo, Bale Province, Burkina Faso, August 2005); February 2010

Bunaeopsis fenestricula
bewe-nay-OPS-ihsmmfeh-neh-strik-EWE-luh
(Strand, 1911) Bunaea

Bunaeopsis fenestricula male, Burkina Faso, July 2006, courtesy of Yves-Pascal Dion.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
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: Bunaeini, Packard, 1902
Genus: Bunaeopsis, Bouvier, 1927

MIDI MUSIC

Wind Beneath My Wings
copyright C. Odenkirk
MIDI CITY
ON.OFF
<bgsound src="wings.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Bunaeopsis fenestricula flies in
Burkina Faso: Bale Province: Boromo (JK).

Thierry Bouyer lists this moth as "incertae sedis" in his 1999 catalogue.

Incertae sedis means "of uncertain position (seat)". It is a phrase used to define a taxonomic group where the broader relationships are unknown or undefined.

Thus, Bunaeopsis fenestricula may be a distinct species, but it might also be a synonym for other similar moths going by a different name. More scientific study is needed to determine the relationships.

I am not sure if the correct spelling is 'fenestricula' or fenestriculata' or 'fenestricola'.

Bunaeopsis fenestricula male, Boromo, Bale Province, Burkina Faso,
August 2005, courtesy of John Kamps.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is possibly only one generation per year with moths on the wing in July-August.

Larval hosts are unknown.

Bunaeopsis fenestricula female, Burkina Faso, July 2006, courtesy of Yves-Pascal Dion.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Bunaeopsis fenestricula males are probably active at night and probably 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.

I believe all mature Buanaeopsis larvae excavate subterranean chambers and pupate underground.

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.



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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.

I do not know the origin or meaning of the species name.