Epiphora cotei

Epiphora cotei
eh-PIF-er-uhmmKOH-tay-eye
(Testout, 1936) (Drepanoptera)

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: Attacini, Blanchard, 1840
Genus: Epiphora, Wallengren, 1860

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DISTRIBUTION:

Epiphora cotei is one of the few Attacini in Africa.

It was originally described from "Victoria Nyanza (Africa equatoriale)" around Nyassa Lake, probably today in Malawi. (SN)

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!

Based on examination of genitalia, Stefan Naumann indicates this species is more closely allied with E. testouti and should not be equated with antinorii as indicated by D'Abrera.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Epiphora cotei 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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

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

Larval Food Plants


It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the suspected 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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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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

"Epiphora" is a medical condition of insufficient drainage of the tear film from the eyes. The eyes are often watery, lids inflamed and crusted. I do not know the the reason(s) for the choice of Epiphora as the genus name, but perhaps the large hyaline areas on the wings of mythimnia (specimen type) with the thick white and yellow borders, were suggestive of watery, encrusted eyes.

The species name "cotei" is honourific for Cote.