Usta wallengrenii
EWE-stuhmmWAHL-len-gren-ee-eye
(Felder & Felder, 1859) (Saturnia)

Usta wallengrenii moth.

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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DISTRIBUTION:

Usta wallengrenii, The Wallengren's Emperor Moth (wingspan 60-80 mm), is restricted to the arid northwestern parts of Namibia and extreme southwestern parts of Angola.

BOLD Systems reports it in Kenya and Namibia, but I think that (Kenya) may be an error.

Usta wallengrenii, wingspan: 80mm, BOLD Systems.

This species is distinct with its evenly toothed, evenly curved (convex) post median line. In the other two species in this genus, the post median line is sinuous.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Usta wallengrenii moth flies from November to February. Various species of Corkwood (Commiphora) and Schinus terebinthifolius are accepted by larvae.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adults pair at night and both sexes come in to lights.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Small eggs are deposited in groups of 10-20 on a hostplant leaves. Initially larvae skeletonize leaves by eating holes in softer tissue from bottom up. As larvae develop, feeding is from the outside edge of the leaves. At pupation time, larvae descend tree trunks to pupate in underground chambers.

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae and/or on various internet sites. 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 species Schinus terebinthifolius.....

Corkwoods Brazilian peppertree

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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 "wallengrenii" is honourific for the Swedish lepidopterist, Hans Daniel Johan Wallengren.