DISTRIBUTION:

The Black Prince, Ludia goniata (wingspan: 35-70mm; females larger than males), flies in
Swaziland and in
South Africa at elevations below 600m.

This species is very similar to Ludia delegorguei, but goniata is darker and goniata males have scalloped forewings and two very short projections near the middle of the hindwing outer margin.

Female goniata have fewer branches (16-17) to their antennae, and the forewing apex is acute rather than right angled as in delegorguei.

Due to its great similarity to L. delegorguei it may be more widespread than indicated above.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Ludia goniata have been taken in September, November and January, suggesting two or three broods. Larvae probably feed on Vernonia.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

I suspect males are diurnal and females nocturnal.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE AND COCOONS:

Dirty white eggs are deposited in single rows of 4-8 on the undersides of foliage.

Larvae, developing to 6cm., are solitary in later 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

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.

Vernonia............................

Ironweed

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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.

The word Ludia means a 'player' in Latin (Pinhey).

The species name, 'goniata', probably refers to the angled lines on the forewing (Pinhey).

Ludia goniata male, Cooper and Cooper, my home computer only.

Ludia goniata female, Cooper and Cooper, my home computer only.

Ludia goniata male, Elliot Pinhey, my home computer only.