DISTRIBUTION:

The Rhodesian Prince, Holocerina rhodesiensis (forewing length: males: 19-25mm (wingspan: 47mm); females: 26-34mm), flies in
Zimbabwe and
Malawi, Africa.

BOLD SYSTEMS reports it in
Tanzania,
Zambia and
Zimbabwe.

Wings are grey violet to purplish red. Note the narrowly produced hindwings.

Holocerina rhodesiensis male, Bold

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Holocerina rhodesiensis larvae are usually black with irritating long black hair and a double row of pink dots. Larvae feed on Cussonia spicata.

Holocerina rhodesiensis (male), Zimbabwe, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

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:

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.

Cussonia spicata.......

Cabbage tree

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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, 'rhodesiensis', indicates a range in Rhodesia, subsequently changed to Zimbabwe.