DISTRIBUTION:

The Pseudobunaea callista moth (wingspan: males: 133mm; females: 150mm) flies in Africa, possibly in the Republic of Central Africa, but more likely further south as is reported by Pinhey, 1972, in Zambia and Angola. Thierry Bouyer confirms it flies in Katanga (southern DR Congo) and Malawi. Mike Buczkowski reports it in Imalinyi (1700m), Njombe District, Iringa Province, in southern Tanzania.

This is a relatively large species and males are known to have a forewing length between 73 and 83 mm.

Pseudobunaea callista male, Zambia, courtesy of Minetti Robert.

The thoracic collar is yellow; the forewing apex is quite rounded, and the basic ground colour is a pale brick red. The marginal areas are broad and grey and there is a noticeable pale reddish spot near the apex. The forewing cell spot is tiny or non-existent.

Pseudobunaea callista male, Imalinyi, Njombe District, Iringa Province, Tanzania,
January, 1700m, courtesy of Mike Buczkowski.

Pseudobunaea callista male (verso), Imalinyi, Njombe District, Iringa Province, Tanzania,
January, 1700m, courtesy of Mike Buczkowski.

The underside is without the cat's paw marking on the hindwing in some specimens. The dark postmedial bands are wide and distinct. The subterminal/marginal area is darker than the median and basal areas.

Pseudobunaea callista female, verso, All Leps Barcode of Life,
on my home computer only.

Pseudobunaea callista male, Kasalambo view point, Nyika, Malawi,
December 23, 1989, 133mm, courtesy of David T. Rolfe.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Pseudobunaea callista moth flies in the months of December-January and possibly at other times.

Larvae feed on Brachystegia and Julbernardia.

Pseudobunaea callista female, Mbala, Zambia,
January 20, 1970, 150mm, courtesy of David T. Rolfe.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE 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.

Brachystegia....... Julbernardia

Msasa Mnondo

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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.

"Pseudobunaea" is derived from "pseudo" = false or like and Bunaea = "Hill Dwellers".

Many of these moths were placed, at one time, with Lobobunaea, but Pseudobunaea lack spines (present on Pseudobunaea tibia) on the legs, and the hindwing eyespot is grey and/or black without the coppery colour of the Lobobunaea.

The species name, callista, is a Greek word meaning very beautiful. In Greek mythology Kallisto was a nymph who was loved by Zeus. She was changed into a she-bear by Hera, and subsequently became the Great Bear constellation.