DISTRIBUTION:

The Falcate Emperor, Lobobunaea falcatissima, (forewing length: 73-92mm; wingspan: approximately 144-185mm) flies in
Zimbabwe (Rhodesia),
Zambia: (Copper Belt, Central, Luapula (WO)),
Malawi,
southeastern DRC (Katanga) and
Tanzania.

Lobobunaea falcatissima male, Zambia, courtesy of Minetti Robert

Lobobunaea falcatissima male, Sakania, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
December 14, 2013, courtesy of Nigel Voaden.

Rolf Oberprieler writes, "Miombo" is the official descriptor for the characteristic "Brachystegia woodlands" that mark the savanna biome of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and the Katanga area of the DR Congo. L. falcatissima is the "miombo equivalent" of L. phaedusa, which flies in the equatorial rainforests. The L. phaedusa complex is a bit tricky, with several other names, and L. falcatissima is the taxon (a distinct species, as I can make out) that occurs in the miombo and feeds on Brachystegia etc. Pinhey (1972) had it more or less right, regarding falcatissima as the "southern race / subspecies" of L. christyi, except that christyi (from Nigeria) is a plain synynym of phaedusa."

Thierry Bouyer, 1999, treats this moth as a subspecies of Lobobunaea phaedusa.

Lobobunaea falcatissima male, wingspan: 144mm, Malawi, courtesy of David T. Rolfe.

The male forewing is usually narrow and strongly falcate. Male antennae are brown; female antennae are black.

The wings are a pale yellow-brown or grayish brown with a paler marginal area. The forewing eyespot is black, ringed with red and pinkish-white. The hindwing eyespot is black, ringed with red, pink and red rings.

Lobobunaea falcatissima male, Kolwezi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
courtesy/copyright of Angela Hertrampf, id by Bill Oehlke

The underside of the hindwing is distinct.

Lobobunaea falcatissima male (verso), Iringa province, Tanzania,
courtesy of Jiri Zabokrtsky.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Lobobunaea falcatissima moth flies in the month of February and probably in other months. Nigel Voaden reports them on the wing in December in Sakania, southeastern DRC.

Larvae feed upon Caesalpiniaceae = Fabaceae and Fagus.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Eclosion is from underground pupae.

Both sexes fly at night with the males coming in to lights around midnight, the scenting time of the females.

Lobobunaea falcatissima female, wingspan: 185mm, Blantyre, Malawi,
February, 1984, courtesy of David T. Rolfe.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

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.

Fagus ......

Beech

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