DISTRIBUTION:

The Pseudobunaea heyeri moth flies in Burkina Faso in western Africa. It also likely flies in Ivory Coast and neighbouring countries. Rodolphe Rougerie and Thierry Bouyer also confirm it in Gabon and Thierry Bouyer also confirms it in Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Kenya. I suspect it also flies in Republic of Central Africa, and probably in Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

This species is highly variable throughout its range and many subspecies have been described.

The following images were sent to me by Jiri Zabokrtsky. The moths are all from Comoe env. of Ivory Coast. The genus Pseudobunaea is in need of revision. Thierry Bouyer indicates (March 12, 2006) that the specimens are most likely subspecies of P. irius or P. heyeri. I will also post them to the P. irius file.

I lean toward P. irius for the third image due to the smaller forewing clear spots and straighter outer lines on the forewing. The first image is a very good match for Rodolphe Rougerie's P. heyeri image at the top of this page. Perhaps there are natural hybrids in the area. The middle image has the larger fw eyespot of heyeri, but it has the more extensive grey along the outer margins of irius, and an intemediate hw eyespot.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Pseudobunaea heyeri moth flies in the months of .

Larvae probably feed on Brachystegia randi, Pterocarpus, Uapaca and Berlinia. Brachystegia spiciformis and Populus would probably also serve as larval hosts.

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, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae pupate underground in subterranean chambers.

Larval Food Plants

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.

Berlinia Brachystegia randi...... Pterocarpus Uapaca Brachystegia spiciformis...... Populus

Mnondo Msasa Mukwa Wild loquat Msasa Poplar

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