DISTRIBUTION:

Holocerina smilax basquini (wingspan: males: 48mm; females: larger) flies in the
Central African Republic and
possibly westward into Burkina Faso. Thierry Bouyer confirms it for
Tanzania and
Kenya.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Holocerina smilax basquini larval hosts are unknown.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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.

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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, 'smilax', means "on wild asparagus creeper" according to Pinhey, Emperor Moths of South-Central Africa, 1972.

The subspecies name 'basquini' is honourific for Basquin.