Usta terpsichore
EWE-stuhMterp-SIK-eh-ree
(Maassen & Weyding, 1885) (Saturnia)

Usta terpsichore (male), South Africa, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Urotini, Packard, 1902 Genus: Usta, Wallengren, 1863

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Usta terpsichore sent as angulata (male), Kenya, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
regarded as U. terpsishore by Thierry Bouyer

DISTRIBUTION:

The Cavorting Emperor, Usta terpsichore, (wingspan 7.5-9.0 cm), is widely distributed in various habitats from southern to north eastern Africa. Rolf Oberprieler reports it in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Rodolphe Rougerie reports it from Burkina Faso in western Africa. It has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thierry Bouyer confimrs it in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Democratic Repbulic of the Congo, and indicates it likely flies in Gabon. I suspect it also flies in Cameroon, the People's Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Nigeria and possibly into Ethiopia as a subspecies. I am pretty sure the specimen depicted below from southeastern Mozambique is Usta terpsichore.

Usta terpsichore, Zitundo, Maputo Region,Mozambique,
75mm, January 19, 2008, courtesy of Andrea Sciarretta,
tentative id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

In Angola, the caterpillar, Usta terpsichore was found to be a rich source of iron, copper, zinc, thiamin (vitamin B) and riboflavin (B2); 100 g of cooked insect provided 100% of the daily requirement of each of these minerals and vitamins (Oliveira et al., 1976).

A great many subspecies are recognized:
terpsichore subangulata Bouvier, 1930 Malawi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
terpsichore grantae Terral & Lequeux, 1991 Tanzania
terpsichore alba Terral & Lequeux, 1991 Tanzania
I think this moth has full species status as Usta alba
terpsichore abyssinica (Aurivillius, 1898) Abessinien (high country in Ethiopia??)
terpsichore yaere Darge, 1994 possibly?? northern plains of Cameroon

Usta terpsichore courtesy of Sid Pugh. This moth is one of the U. terpsichore subspecies.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Usta terpsichore moth flies in dry savannas as well as in moist lowland forests from November to February in Namibia where there is one generation. In other areas there are two generations on the wing in September and October and then again in February and March.

Larvae prefer Marula ( Sclerocarya birrea) and Corkwoods (Commiphora species), but also accept California Peppertree (Schinus molle) and Chinaberry (Melia azedarach).

Usta terpsichore (female), South Africa, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adults pair at night and both sexes come in to lights, but with females, only after ovipositing is complete.

Usta terpsichore sent as angulata (female), Kenya, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
regarded as U. terpsishore by Thierry Bouyer

Usta terpsichore male, Lake Masek, southern Serengeti Plain, Tanzania,
5500ft, Acacia-Commiphora woodland, courtesy of David Bygott.

Usta terpsichore male, Lake Masek, southern Serengeti Plain, Tanzania,
5500ft, Acacia-Commiphora woodland, courtesy of David Bygott.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Small eggs are deposited in one cluster on a hostplant twig. Initially larvae are gregarious but become more and more solitary as they develop. At pupation time, larvae descend tree trunks to pupate in underground chambers.

Usta terpsichore, Kolwezi, Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
courtesy/copyright of Angela Hertrampf, id by Bill Oehlke

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

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.

Commiphora caryaefolia..... Commiphora woodii Melia azedarach Schinus molle Sclerocarya birrea Sclerocarya caffra

Corkwood Forest Corkwood Chinaberry California peppertree Marula Sclerocarya

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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.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

The genus name Usta means "burnt" in Latin.

The species name "terpsichore" is that of the Greek muse of dancing, Terpsichore.