DISTRIBUTION:

Epiphora magdalena is one of the few Attacini in Africa.

* Rolf Oberprieler writes, "The Epiphora from Ngorongoro and Kilimajaro should be E. magdalena Gruenberg, 1909. This was described from the Usambara Mts. and is the representative of the antinorii group in Kenya and northern Tanzania. Rougeot’s imperator was described from Ikonda in the Kipengere Range in southern Tanzania. It seems to be a distinct species from E. magdalena, but intergradation may occur somewhere in Tanzania. Either way, the oldest name for the northern Tanzania population is E. magdalena." Epiphora magdalena Kenya, courtesy of William Hark.

Hence, the three specimens depicted on this page are E. magdalena, and E. imperator would be very similar but from southern Tanzania or Malawi. Epiphora magdalena is very similar to Epiphora antinorii. "As long as no genitalia preparations exist, the taxonomic status remains somewhat unclear." (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!

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

Bunaea alcinoe caffra male and Epiphora magdalena * male,
Kilimanjaro's lower montane forest at 1800m, courtesy of David Bygott.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Epiphora magdalena 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 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 "magdalena" is honourific for collector Magdalena V. Prince. (Naumann)

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