Ludia corticea
Updated as per Pinhey's Emperor Moths of South and South-Central Africa, 1972, April 29, 2006
Updated as per Bouyer's Catalogue of African Saturniidae, 1999, April 29, 2006
Updated as per Oberprieler's The Emperor Moths of Namibia, April 29, 2006
Updated as per Natural History Museum website, April 29, 2006

Ludia corticea
LOO-dee-uhMkor-tih-see-uh
Jordan, 1922

Ludia corticea, image digitally reconstructed by Bill Oehlke,
from original spread specimen by Rolf Oberprieler.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Micragonini Cockerell in Packard, 1914 (1902)
Genus: Ludia, Wallengren, 1865

MIDI MUSIC

"Moon River"
copyright C. Odenkirk

ON.OFF
<bgsound src="moon.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Ludia corticea, the Spotted Prince (wingspan: males: 35mm; females: 55mm) is known only in Windhoek, Namibia, especially in the Eros Mountains.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Adults fly in Africa in mid-December to mid-January where there are single generations.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Calling females successfully attract males at night.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in single rows of 4-8 on the undersides of foliage.

Larvae, developing to 6cm., are solitary through all stages and curl up, exposing urticating spines, when disturbed.

Larvae descend the host plant at pupation time and spin up a thin cocoon at the base of hostplants.


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.

Asteraceae.....

Asteraceae

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

Return to Ludia Index

Return to Main Index

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

The genus name Ludia is from the Latin and means "a player".

The species name "corticea" means "bark-like".