DISTRIBUTION:

Holocerina micropteryx (wingspan: males: 50mm; females: 75mm) flies in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Shaba,
Republic of Central Africa,
probably in the People's Republic of the Congo and in
Cameroon (confirmed).

Holocerina micropteryx male, Bold

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

Holocerina micropteryx female, Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Thierry Bouyer.

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 micropteryx female, Bold

Holocerina micropteryx ???, female, Congo, courtesy of Victor Sinaev.

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, 'micropteryx', means small feathers or small wings. This is probably a smaller species.