DISTRIBUTION:

The Pseudobunaea cleopatra moth (wingspan: approximately 111-116mm) flies in
Cameroon: Centre Province: Mbalmayo; East Province: Yokadouma, and probably in the Republic of Central Africa. Rodolphe Rougerie indicates it flies in
Gabon. Thierry Bouyer also confirms it flies in
Democratic Republic of the Congo.

I suspect it also flies in PR Congo.

Pseudobunaea catochra, a synonym of P. cleopatra, courtesy of Teemu Klemetti

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Pseudobunaea cleopatra moth flies in the months of December and February (Sebastian Brandner), and probably at other times. Jean-Louis Albert confirms P. cleopatra on the wing in Franceville, Gabon, April 12, 2007. Hubert Mayer confirms them from Mbalmayo south of Yaounde, Cameroon in July.

Micehlle Constanza, via Antoine Guyonnet, reports them in Yokadouma, Est Province, Cameroon, in April.

Pseudobunaea cleopatra male, Mbalmayo, Cameroon,
June, 2001, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

Pseudobunaea cleopatra female, Mbalmayo, Cameroon,
June, 2001, courtesy of Hubert Mayer.

Larvae feed on Alchornia cordifolia, Bridelia grandis and Croton oligandrum.

Pseudobunaea cleopatra, female, Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Thierry Bouyer.

Pseudobunaea cleopatra female, February 2006, Elone Cameroon,
wingspan 112mm, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner, id confirmed by Thierry Bouyer.

Pseudobunaea cleopatra female (verso), February 2006, Elone Cameroon,
wingspan 112mm, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

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.

Pseudobunaea cleopatra, December 5, 2006,
courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert, Franceville, Gabon.

Pseudobunaea cleopatra (verso), December 5, 2006,
courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert, Franceville, Gabon.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

At maturity, larvae descend tree trunks and pupate in subterranean chambers which they excavate.

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, cleopatra, is from the famous Egyptian queen who became entangled with Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony.

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.

Alchornia cordifolia....... Bridelia grandis Croton oligandrum

Alchornia cordifolia Asas Croton oligandrumt

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

Return to Pseudobunaea Index

Return to Main Index