DISTRIBUTION:

Holocerina angulata istsariensis (wingspan: males: 44-54mm; females: 77-86mm) flies in Istsare in Nyanza in
western Kenya: Kakamega Forest: middle-aged secondary forest,
Tanzania,
Uganda,
Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Burundi and
Rwanda.

Holocerina istsariensis male, Bold

Apparently there are both red and brown forms, and this moth has been elevated to full species status in some taxonomies.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The moth has been reported on the wing in April and in August-October.

Holocerina angulata istsariensis larvae probably feed on Bauhinia reticulata, Brachystegia, Laburnum, Monotes glaberi, Protea, Uapaca kirkiana and Uapaca nitida

Holocerina istsariensis male, Bold

Holocerina istsariensis female, Bold

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.

Holocerina istsariensis female, Bold

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Listed below are the primary and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. 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 the Greek 'Holocera' which means entirely waxy.

The species name, 'angulata', possibly refers to the very acute "cut" of the hindwing anal angle. Pinhey (1972) indicates it refers to the angled lines on the wings.

Pinhey also indicates the subspecies name 'istrsariensis' indicates a location, Istsare in Nyanza in western Kenya.