Gynanisa maja
gye-na-NEE-suh mm MAH-juh
(Klug, 1836) Saturnia

Photo courtesy of Leroy Simon

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelcom.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: Bunaeini, Packard, 1902 Genus: Gynanisa, Walker, 1855

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DISTRIBUTION:

Gynanisa maja, The Speckled Emperor, (wingspan 10.5-13 cm), is widely distributed in southern Africa and ranges northward into Angola and Zambia. The species is absent, however, from the southwestern arid and winter rainfall regions.

The dark form, Gynanisa nigra, is not a distinct species

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This emperor flies from late December until early February. Gynanisa maja larvae feed primarily on Namibia Camel Thorn (Acacia erioloba) and Mopane (Colophospermum mopane). Larvae serve as an important human food source and the species is celebrated on a Mali postage stamp.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Eclosion is from a deep (20 cm) subterranean pupa. Males fly around midnight, the calling time of females.

Gynanisa maja male copyright protected courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Females deposit clusters of 10-12 ova on foodplant leaves. The eggs are often sparsely covered with scales from the female's body. Early instar larvae are gregarious and reddish-black. As they develop, they become solitary feeders, hiding on the underside of leaf stems and twigs. Basis green colouration with silver (sky coloured) spines offers excellent camouflage. Fully grown larvae (9.0 cm) descend the hostplant in March or April to pupate in deep underground chambers.

Photo courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Gynanisa maja larva copyright protected courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Listed below are the 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.

Acacia erioloba Acacia karroo Acacia mollissima Berlinia paniculata Brachystegia venosa Cassia Colophospermum mopane..... Elephantorrhiza burchelli Julbernardia Laburnum Peltophorum Prunus persica Pterocarpus Quercus gambelii Quercus robar Quercus turneri Robinia pseudoacacia Schotia

Namibia Camel Thorn Karro wattle Black wattle Mnondo Msasa Senna Mopane Elephantorrhiza Mnondo Bean tree Wattle Peach Mukwa Gambel oak English oak oak Locust Tree Fuchisa

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