Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) macrothyris
(Rothshild, 1906) Bunaea

Nudaurelia macrothyris courtesy of Frans Desmet,
Royal Museum for Central Africa , Tervuren, Belgium

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] 1816 or Genus: Nudaurelia Rothschild, 1895

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

DISTRIBUTION:

The Large-Eyed Emperor, Nudaurelia macrothyris (wingspan 15-16 cm), flies from Natal and Transvaal in
South Africa
to Rhodesia (Zimbabwe),
Malawi,
Angola,
Zambia: Central Province: Kasanka N. P.,
CAR and
southern Tanzania: Mbeya (1400m); Mtwara (440m)?

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo it is known as Ligegele.

Nudaurelia macrothyris male, Zambia, courtesy of Minetti Robert.

Nudaurelia macrothyris female, Zambia, courtesy of Minetti Robert.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Mike Buczkowski reoports a December-January flight in southern Tanzania.

Philippe Darge reports a November flight in Zambia.

Nudaurelia macrothyris larvae feed on Julbernardia and Brachystegia and on apple and plum. It has also been reported from DRC on Albizia adianthifolia, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Amphimas pterocarpoides and Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum.

Visit Nudaurelia macrothyris male, female and verso male, southern Tanzania, courtesy of Mike Buczkowski.

Nudaurelia macrothyris pair, courtesy of John Marchant.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females have finer antennae and much more rounded forewings than males.

Imbrasia macrothyris female, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Mature larva pupate in subterranean chambers.

Imbrasia macrothyris courtesy of Andreas Riekert.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) 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.

Albizia adianthifolia Amphimas pterocarpoides Brachystegia randii Brachystegia spiciformis Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum....... Julbernardia Pentaclethra macrophylla Piptadeniastrum africanum Prunus Pyrus malus Ricinodendron heudelotii

Libamba Ekanga Msasa Msasa Bohulu Mnondo Bosanza Bokungu Cherry/Plum Apple Munguella, Essessang, Bofeko, Wama, Okhuen, Kishongo, Djansang, Essang, Ezezang, Njasang

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