DISTRIBUTION:

The Hansal's Prince, Ludia hansali (forewing length: 25-32mm; wingspan: males: 46-54mm; females: 58mm) flies in neotropical Africa. The Natural History Museum reports it in
northern Ethiopia: Bogos.
Thierry Bouyer reports it in
Democratic Republic of the Congo and
Kenya where Pinhey indicates populations in Kitale and Nairobi. Pinhey (1956) also indicates it has been found in the
Kalinzu Forest of Uganda, but it may be subspecies Ludia hansali eximia in Uganda. Thierry indicates it may also fly in Tanzania.

BOLD Systems confirms it in
Somalia and
Republic of Central Africa.

The forewing outer margin is faintly toothed and quite straight even in males. Ground colour is dark-grey brown.

Ludia hansali male, 46mm, Bold.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Ludia hansali larvae feed on Hottentot tobacco tree (Tarchonanthus camphoratus.)

Ludia hansali female, 58mm, Bold.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

These moths are relatively small and day-flying males have falcate forewings. The somewhat larger females call during the day, but oviposit at night (beginning probably in early evening). Their forewings are slightly produced at the apex but are not falcate.

EGGS, LARVAE, PUPAE, COCOONS:

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.

Tarchonanthus camphoratus.....

Hottentot tobacco tree

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. 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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

"Ludia" is from the Latin word for player and may have been chosen for the erratic (playful), daytime flight of the males.

The species name "hansali" is honourific for Hansal.

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