Bunaea oremansi
Updated as per personal communication with Thierry Bouyer, Bouyer, Th., 2008, Entomologia Africana 13 (2): 53-59, May 8, 2012

Bunaea oremansi
Bouyer, 2008

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelcom.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: Bunaea, Hübner, [1819] 1816

MIDI MUSIC

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

DISTRIBUTION:

Bunaea oremansi, flies on Sao Tomé Island, about 240 km (150 mi) west of Gabon.

As of May 2012, this species is not listed on BOLD systems, so it may have been synonymized with Bunaea alcino?

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in October.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

This species probably emerges at dusk and females attract the night flying males with an airbourne pheromone.

The pair remains coupled for a relatively short time. Females have thinner and blacker antennae and their abdomens are much broader and forewings are more rounded than in males.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Eggs are large, round, and cream coloured, and have a deep indentation at the micropyle.

Larvae prefer fresh food and a warm, humid atmosphere. In the final instar, airy conditions are preferred.

When larvae are disturbed they will lash their heads and front segments violently back and forth.

Rough, black pupae are probably formed deep (10-15 cm) underground. Under artificial conditions pupae will emerge after being kept moist following immersion in tepid water.

The species name, oremansi, is honourific for Oermans.

Larval Food Plants


It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Bauhinia reticulata
Cassonia spicata
Celtis
Crataegus
Croton
Ekebergia meyeri
Ekebergia ruepellii
Gymnosporia senegalensis.....
Harpephyllum caffrum
Khaya senegalensis
Ligustrum
Maesa lanceolata
Prunus
Pyrus malus
Quercus robar
Rhus glabra
Terminalia catappa

Kanchan
Cassonia
Hackberry
Hawthorn
Croton
Ekebergia
Ekebergia
Gymnosporia
Kaffir plum
Red mahogany
Privet
Maesa
Cherry
Apple
English oak
Smooth sumac
Indian almond

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

Return to Bunaea Index

Return to Main Index