DISTRIBUTION:

Epiphora aequatorialis (wingspan: males : 160-168mm, possibly larger; females: (172mm??)) is one of the few Attacini in Africa:
Cameroon
Republic of Central Africa.

I have very little information about many of the African species. Distribution/range, flight times, images, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

Send info and/or pictures to oehlkew@islandtelecom.com. Every little bit helps!

This species belongs to the vacuna group and flies in equatorial Africa.

Epiphora aequatorialis male, 160mm, sorry, image not available.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Mike Buczkowski reports a March flight in the Younde-Mbalmayo region of Cameroon.

Epiphora aequatorialis larvae probably feed on Citrus, Maesopsis eminii, Paullinia, Zanthoxylum macrophyllum and Fagara macrophylla.

Epiphora aequatorialis male, 168mm, sorry, image not available.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Epiphora aequatorialis females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in the night-flying males.The pair remains coupled until the following evening.

The wings of the female are more rounded than those of the male.

Epiphora aequatorialis female, Mbalmayo, Younde, Cameroon,
March 2012, id by and courtesy of Mike Buczkowski,
slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

The cocoon is double walled and resembles the cocoon of the Hyalphora.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae and/or on various internet sites. 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.

Citrus Fagara macrophylla..... Maesopsis eminii Paullinia Zanthoxylum macrophyllum.......

Citrus East African Satin Wood Muhumula/Musira Guarana Hercules' club

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