DISTRIBUTION:

The Gold Bordered Prince, Holocerina agomensis (wingspan: Males 40-48mm: females: 49-58mm / forewing length: males: 22-26mm; females: 27-32mm), flies in
Zimbabwe,
Malawi,
Angola,
People's Republic of the Congo and
Zambia.

Pinhey reports it is also found in equatorial West Africa which would probably also include
Gabon (confirmed): Haute-Ogooue: Franceville and Mounana,
Equatorial Guinea,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Cameroon,
Republic of Central Africa, and further west,
including Ivory Coast: Korhogo (August (SCI)).

Since Pinhey also mentions Transvaal in northern South Africa, I suspect ?? it might also be found to the north in Botswana. Interpolation would also suggest ?? it is found in western Mozambique between Malawi and Zimbabwe.

The Natural History Museum suggests Togo and the name suggests it may be from as far west as Agome in Ghana. If that is the case, it is probably also found in Benin and Nigeria.

Holocerina agomensis male, 42mm, Franceville, Gabon,
March 23, 2014, courtesy/copyright Jean-Louis Albert,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

In both sexes, the small hindwing clearspot is thickly black-edged with a slight orange halo. Basic ground color varies from pinkish orange to a much darker brown.

Holocerina agomensis female, Franceville, Gabon, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

Holocerina agomensis (verso) female, Franceville, Gabon, courtesy ofJean-Louis Albert.

Holocerina agomensis male (verso), Mounana, Haute-Ogooue, Gabon,
40mm, March 2, 2008, courtesy/copyright Jean-Louis Albert.

Holocerina agomensis male (verso), 42mm, Franceville, Gabon,
March 23, 2014, courtesy/copyright Jean-Louis Albert,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Jean-Lou Albert has taken this moth in Mounana, Haute Ogoouie, Gabon, in early March and in Franceville, Gabon in late March. There may be other flights. SCI reports an August flight in Korhogo in northern Ivory Coast.

Holocerina agomensis larvae feed on Bauhinia reticulata, Brachystegia, Laburnum, Monotes glaberi, Protea, Uapaca kirkiana and Uapaca nitida.

Holocerina agomensis female at rest, Gabon, by P. Basquin.(on my home computer only)

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females call in the males with an airbourne pheromone, which is detected and tracked in flight via the males' highly developed antennae.

In some cases females can reproduce parthenogenetically, i.e., without pairing with a male.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae are highly variable. The body is usually black with rows of short black tufts of spines, and a yellow lateral line or markings, but it can also be white or dull green with orange tubercles.

Holocerina agoemensis larva from Pinhey's
Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972,
on my home computer only.

Holocerina agoemensis larva from Pinhey's
Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972,
on my home computer only.

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.

Bauhinia reticulata Brachystegia Laburnum Monotes glaberi Protea Uapaca kirkiana....... Uapaca nitida

Kanchan Msasa Beantree Yellow wood Sugar bush Wild loquat Wild loquat

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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.

Holocerina is a modification of theGreek 'Holocera' which means entirely waxy.

The species name, 'agomensis', probably indicates a location, Agome, in Ghana.