Heniocha vingerhoedti
hen-ee-OAK-uhmvin-ger-HOHDT-eye
Bouyer, 1992

Heniocha vingerhoedti pair (male top), Thierry Bouyer.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelcom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Bunaeini, Packard, 1902 Genus: Heniocha, Hübner, [1819] 1816

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DISTRIBUTION:

Heniocha vingerhoedti (wingspan: males: 60-69mm; females: 66-73mm) flies in
north and central Tanzania: Tanganyika, Banagi Hill, Musoma, Arusha District; and
eastern Rwanda: Karama, Kagera, Butare. It might ?? also fly as a far north as Kenya and as far south as Malawi, according to Thierry Bouyer. Rolf Oberprieler indicates it might be found in the Republic of Central Africa.

This species is very similar in appearance to Heniocha marnois. Examination of genitalia is probably necessary to tell them apart.

Heniocha vingerhoedti male, 68mm, BOLD Systems.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Heniocha vingerhoedti adults are probably on the wing from late December until early May.

Larvae probably feed on Elephant's Root (Elephantorrhiza elephantina).

Heniocha vingerhoedti female, 70mm, BOLD Systems.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Heniocha vingerhoedti moths mate and fly at night with both sexes attracted to lights. Males are usually slightly smaller than females.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in strings of up to 30 on foodplant leaves.

Larvae are black in first instar.

Larval Food Plants

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.

Elephanthorriza elephantina.....

Elephant's Root

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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.

In Greek mythology Heniocha is the daughter of Pittheus and the mother of Sciron.

The species name vingerhoedti is honourific for Eric Vingerhoedt.