Bunaeopsis murphyi
Updated as per personal communication with Thierry Bouyer, May 21, 2007

Bunaeopsis murphyi
bewe-nay-OPS-ihsMMUR-fee-eye
Bouyer, 2007

Bunaeopsis murphyi male, Malawi, courtesy of Thierry Bouyer,
on my home computer only

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 murphyi (wingspan: males: 110mm; females: probably larger) flies in Malawi, Africa.

Bunaeopsis murphyi male, Malawi, courtesy of Thierry Bouyer,
on my home computer only

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There is probably only one generation per year with moths on the wing probably from January and February. Bunaeopsis murphyi larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Bunaeopsis murphyi 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. Probably all of the Lobobunaea pupate underground in an excavated chamber. There would be no spinning of a silk cocoon.

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.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Bunaeopsis Index

Return to Main 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 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 murphyi is honourific for Murphy.