DISTRIBUTION: Bunaeopsis oubie (wingspan: males: 103mm; females: probably larger) flies in Africa. Julius Busingye reports it from Uganda. Rolf Oberprieler reports it from Zimbabwe. The specimen type is from Ethiopia. Thierry Bouyer confirms it from Kenya where is it possibly subspecies orientalis. Image to right courtesy of Max Wolf, Masai-Mara, Kenya, January 6, 2001.

Bunaeopsis oubie male, Central Province, Kenya,
courtesy of Andreas Riekert.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Bunaeopsis oubie orientalis larvae feed on Pycrteus mturitcatus and Euclea sp.

Moths are probably on the wing in the middle of the African summer, December-January. David T. Rolfe reports the following specimen taken in May.

Bunaeopsis oubie, Etosha, Kenya, May 17, 2005, courtesy of David T. Rolfe.

Bunaeopsis oubie larvae feed on grasses, Pycreus muricatus and Euclea in the wild and on beech and willow in captivity.

Bunaeopsis oubie male, Keekorok Lodge, Masai Mara, Kenya,
March 1, 2009, courtesy of Andrew Hardacre.

Andrew reports that this image was taken after two months without rain in southwestern Kenya. Nothing else was flying. Masai Mara vicinity is lion country with grassy plains. There probably are not too many Saturniidae in the immediate area. Other species that might be present would be more likely to eclose during a wetter season.

Bunaeopsis oubie male, Keekorok Lodge, Masai Mara, Kenya,
March 1, 2009, courtesy of Andrew Hardacre.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Bunaeopsis oubie males are active at night and come in to lights.

Bunaeopsis oubie female, Nairobi area, Kenya (possibly further north)
courtesy of Colin.

Bunaeopsis oubie female, Nairobi area, Kenya (possibly further north)
courtesy of Colin.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Bunaeopsis oubie larvae feed on grasses, Pycreus muricatus and Euclea in the wild and on beech and willow in captivity.

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.

grasses Pycreus muricatus...... Euclea Fagus Salix

grasses Pycreus muricatus Ebony Beech Willow

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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 oubie is probably for Dejatch Oubie, Prince of Tigre, Ethiopia.