DISTRIBUTION:

The Pseudantheraea imperator moth (forewing length: males: approx. 74mm; females: 85mm; wingspan: males: approx. 124mm; females: 146-150mm) flies Africa, especially in southern Nigeria and Cameroon: Yaounde (Central Region); Elone (Southern Region).

It has also been reported in Gabon, P. R. Congo and D.R. Congo, and by Pinhey further to the south in northwestern Zambia and Angola and to the east in Uganda.

In Cameroon, P. discrepans prefers moist, dense, semi-deciduous forest, while P. imperator prefers moist, dense, evergreen coastal lowland forest. I do not know if they might be allotropic in areas of Zambia and Uganda. Certainly Jean-Louis Albert reports them both in Franceville, Gabon, and Sebastian Brandner them both in Elone, Cameroon.

Pseudantheraea imperator, courtesy of Frederik Goussey.

Frederik Goussey has supplied the P. imperator series images above from Mount Muaninguba in southern Cameroon. The moth in the lower right is Nudaurelia dione.

Thierry Bouyer (identification) reports P. discrepans is quite common in southern Cameroon. Thierry indicates P. imperator is a larger, brighter species, with more rounded wings and an external margin of the forewing that is nearly straight instead of concave as in P. discrepans. The genitalia are very distinct between P. discrepans and P. imperator. When one sees the two Pseudantheraea species side by side, the differences are obvious as per this comparison image, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner:

Pseudantheraea discrepans left; Pseudanthereaea imperator right,
wingspan 112mm, wingspan 124mm, respectively, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Pseudantheraea imperator male, Cameroon,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Jean-Louis Albert reports a specimen taken in Franceville, Gabon, December 11, 2005 and another taken on August 20, 2006. Sebastian Brandner reports a specimen taken in Nsimi, Cameroon in August so it appears there are at least two flights annually.

Pseudanthereaea imperator male, August 2006, Nsimi (Sud Province), Cameroon,
courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Pseudanthereaea imperator male (verso), August 2006, Nsimi (Sud Province), Cameroon,
courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Pseudantheraea imperator (verso), Franceville, Gabon, August 20, 2006,
wingspan: 150mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

Pseudantheraea imperator larvae feed upon Poga, Terminalia, Uapaca, Mangifera and Fagus.

Pseudantheraea imperator, Franceville, Gabon, December 11, 2005,
wingspan: 146mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

Pseudantheraea imperator, Franceville, Gabon, August 20, 2006,
wingspan: 150mm, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the posterior tip of the abdomen to call in males.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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.

Fagus Mangifera Poga Terminalia...... Uapaca

Beech Mango Inoi (Nigeria), Ngale (Cameroon), Ovoga, Afo (Gabon) Assegai wood Wild loquat

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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.

"Antheraea" is derived from either the Latin "anthra" referring to pollen held in the anther (top part of stamen = male part of flower) or from the Greek feminine of "anthros" meaning flowery. There may be a link to the large and feathery antennae which distinguish many of the males of the Antheraea genus.

Males of the Pseudantheraea genus do not have large feathery antennae, but they do somewhat resemble some of the Antheraea species from southeast Asia.

The species name, imperator, means "emperor", or "Commander in Chief", according to Pinhey.

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