Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis
nood-aur-REEL-ee-uhmmEB-lis
(Strecker, 1876) Imbrasia eblis

Imbrasia eblis (male), Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.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: Imbrasia, Hubner, 1819

MIDI MUSIC Wind Beneath My Wings copyright C. Odenkirk MIDI CITY ON.OFF <bgsound src="wings.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION: Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis (wingspan: males: approximately 161mm; females: ) flies in Cameroon. Julius Busingye reports it from Uganda. Felix Stumpf reports it from Ivory Coast: confirmed by SCI for Azaguie (February and November) and Mount Tonkoui (March). There are also reports from Gabon: Haut-Ogooue: Franceville (PD & JLA); Republic of Central Africa (AVV); Democratic Republic of the Congo (TB). Stefan Naumann reports it from western Kenya: Kakmega; Sierre Leone; Ghana; and Benin. I suspect it also flies in Togo and Nigeria. The caterpillar is depicted on a People's Republic of the Congo postage stamp. Phillipe Darge confirms it in Ouesso.

Thierry Bouyer treats this moth as Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis.

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis, Democratic Republic of the Congo, courtesy of Heinz Rothacher.

FLIGHT TIMES AND LARVAL HOSTS:

Philippe Darge reports them on the wing in Franceville, Gabon, in October-November, 1963. Jean-Louis Albert reports them on the wing in August, 2006, also in Franceville, so it appears there are at least two broods annually. Stefan Naumann reports moths taken in March, May and June. In Ivory Coast they have been taken in February-March and November.

Gonimbrasia eblis larval hosts include Alchornea, Mangifera indica, Cassia and Citrus aurantium (SN).

Nudaurelia eblis male (recto and verso), Franceville, Gabon,
wingspan: 161mm, August 26, 2006, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Both sexes are active at night. Males come in to lights around midnight when females are scenting.

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis courtesy of Teemu Klemetti.

Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) eblis (female), Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Pupation is in the soil in a subterranean chamber.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, on Manotes expansa,
Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, on Chaetocarpus africanus,
Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo, August 19, 2006.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Nudaurelia eblis fifth instar, on Mangifera indica,
Bas Congo, central western Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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.

Alchornea Cassia Chaetocarpus africanus ....... Citrus aurantium Mangifera indica Manotes expansa

Alchornea Cassia Chaetocarpus africanus Bitter oragne Mango Diladila

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.