Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)

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Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)

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Africa Wild Insect Book: Lepidoptera: Moths

Upload your picture of a moth and add a description underneath. Please only do one species per post.

All entries will be edited and updated (additional photos and information will be added by moderators). New entries will be posted according to taxonomic order and the post date does not reflect the actual date of new posts.

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Africa Wild Insect Book: Index to Moths (Lepidoptera)

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Order according to Phylogenetic Study of the Insect Order Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies)

Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silk Moths)
Saturniidae (Emperor Moths)
Argema mimosae Luna Moth viewtopic.php?p=231571#p231571
Bunaea alcinoe Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth, Common Emperor viewtopic.php?p=231572#p231572
Bunaeopsis arabella Injured Emperor Moth viewtopic.php?p=231574#p231574
Gonimbrasia belina, Imbrasia belina Emperor Moth, Mopane Moth viewtopic.php?p=231578#p231578
Gynanisa maja, Saturnia maja Speckled Emperor viewtopic.php?p=231579#p231579
Heniocha appolonia Southern Marbled Emperor viewtopic.php?p=231580#p231580
Heniocha dyops Western Marbled Emperor viewtopic.php?f=247&t=3184#p256047
Melanocera menippe Chestnut Emperor Moth viewtopic.php?p=231581#p231581
Nudaurelia cytherea Pine Tree Emperor viewtopic.php?p=503561#p503561
Pselaphelia flavivitta Leaf Emperor viewtopic.php?f=247&t=3184&start=10#p242869
Rohaniella pygmaea Pigmy Emperor viewtopic.php?p=231582#p231582

Sphingidae (Hawk Moths, Spinx Moths)
Sphinginae
Acherontia atropos Death's Head Hawk-moth viewtopic.php?p=231586#p231586
Agrius convolvuli Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Sweet Potato Hornworm viewtopic.php?p=231588#p231588
Coelonia fulvinotata, Coelonia mauritii Fulvous Hawk-moth viewtopic.php?p=231589#p231589
Poliana natalensis Sphinx Hawkmoth viewtopic.php?p=325564#p325564
Smerinthinae
Platysphinx piabilis Mealy Hawk viewtopic.php?f=247&t=3184&start=10#p277032
Pseudoclanis postica Mulberry Hawk Moth viewtopic.php?f=247&t=3184&start=10#p277033
Macroglossinae
Basiothia medea Small Verdant Hawk-moth viewtopic.php?p=231591#p231591
Cephonodes hylas virescens Oriental Bee Hawk-moth viewtopic.php?p=231593#p231593
Daphnis nerii Oleander Hawk-moth viewtopic.php?p=231594#p231594
Hippotion celerio Silver-striped Hawk-moth, Vine Hawk-moth viewtopic.php?p=231595#p231595
Hyles livornicaStr iped Hawk viewtopic.php?p=292131#p292131
Macroglossum trochilus African Humming Bird Moth viewtopic.php?p=231595#p232262
Nephele comma Comma Nephele Hawk-moth viewtopic.php?p=231596#p231596
Nephele vau V Nephele viewtopic.php?p=501881#p501881
Theretra capensis Cape Hawk-moth, Grape Vine Hawk viewtopic.php?p=231598#p231598

Bombycidae (Silk Moths)

Eupterotidae (Monkey Moths, Giant Lappet Moths)
Phiala sp. Phiala Monkey Moth viewtopic.php?p=231615#p231615
Striphnopteryx edulis Edible Monkey viewtopic.php?p=495854#p495854
Tantaliana tantalus King Monkey viewtopic.php?p=530679#p530679
Monkey Moth Caterpillar viewtopic.php?f=247&t=3184&p=231615#p245419

Brahmaeidae


Superfamily Lasiocampoidea (Lappet Moths)
Lasiocampidae
Lasiocampinae
Bombycomorpha bifascia Barred Eggarlet viewtopic.php?f=247&t=3184&start=30#p259414
Bombycomorpha dukei Duke's Eggarlet viewtopic.php?p=487628#p487628
Eutricha capensis Cape Lappet Moth viewtopic.php?p=231617#p231617
Eutricha obscura Lappet Moth viewtopic.php?p=528961#p528961
Gonometa postica African Wild Silk Moth viewtopic.php?p=231618#p231618
Grammodora nigrolineata Black-lined Eggar viewtopic.php?p=236255#p236255
Mesocelis monticola Mountian White Spot viewtopic.php?f=247&t=3184&start=30#p241488
Streblote polydora Straight Nadiasa viewtopic.php?p=231620#p231620

Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths)
Erebidae(Owlet Moths)
Erebinae
Ctenusa pallida Pallid Drab viewtopic.php?p=527971#p527971
Trigonodes hyppasia Triangles viewtopic.php?p=526365#p526365
Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
Acontiinae
Acronictinae
Agaristinae
Agoma trimenii Trimen's False Tiger viewtopic.php?f=247&t=3184&p=231634#p267195
Heraclia butleri Butler's False Tiger viewtopic.php?p=231636#p231636
Ovios capensis Cream Cake, Sleepy Tiger viewtopic.php?p=231637#p231637
Amphipyrinae
Bryophilinae
Catocalinae
Achaea echo Echo Moth viewtopic.php?p=231638#p231638
Achaea lienardi Lienard's Achaea viewtopic.php?p=501591#p501591
Calesia zambesita White Chain viewtopic.php?p=231640#p231640
Calliodes pretiossima, Calliodes rivuligera Wavy Owl Moth viewtopic.php?p=231642#p231642
Cerocala vermiculosa Vermiculous viewtopic.php?p=231644#p231644
Cometaster pyrula Faint Owl viewtopic.php?p=231644#p233101
Cyligramma latona Cream-striped Owl Moth viewtopic.php?p=231645#p231645
Dysgonia torrida Jigsaw Moth viewtopic.php?p=231649#p231649
Erebus macrops, Erebus walkeri Walker's Owl Moth viewtopic.php?p=231650#p231650
Grammodes bifasciata viewtopic.php?p=498134#p498134
Grammodes stolida Stolid Lines Moth viewtopic.php?p=231651#p231651
Hypopyra africana viewtopic.php?p=231652#p231652
Hypopyra capensis Red Tail Moth viewtopic.php?p=325555#p325555
Ophiusa tirhaca Green Drab viewtopic.php?p=231653#p231653
Rhesala moestalis viewtopic.php?p=505052#p505052
Sphingomorpha chlorea Sundowner Moth viewtopic.php?p=231654#p231654
Trigonodes hyppasia Triangles viewtopic.php?p=231656#p231656
Chloephorinae
Cuculliinae
Euteliinae
Hadeninae
Diaphone eumela Cherry Spot Moth viewtopic.php?p=231659#p231659
Heliothinae
Helicoverpa armigera African Cotton Bollworm, Scarce Bordered Straw viewtopic.php?p=494072#p494072
Hypeninae
Noctuinae
Hypena obacerralis Snout Moth viewtopic.php?p=231662#p231662
Nolinae
Plusiinae
Chrysodeixis chalcites Golden Twin Spot viewtopic.php?p=231665#p231665
Ctenoplusia dorfmeisteri, Plusia dorfmeisteri Plusiine Moth viewtopic.php?p=231664#p231664
Thysanoplusia orichalcea Golden Plusia Moth viewtopic.php?p=231666#p231666
Rivulinae
Sarrothripinae
Stictopterinae

Nolidae (Lichen Moths)
Maurilia arcuata Arch Drab viewtopic.php?p=493639#p493639
Euteliidae
Erebidae
Arctiinae
Amata alicia Alice Maid Moth viewtopic.php?p=232197#p232197
Amata kuhlweini Cool Moth viewtopic.php?p=232199#p232199
Leucaloa eugraphica Graphic Ermine viewtopic.php?p=528167#p528167
Utetheisa pulchella Crimson Speckled Footman viewtopic.php?p=232204#p232204
Siccia caffra Speckled Grey Footman viewtopic.php?p=232206#p232206
Lymantriinae (Tussocks)
Crorema adspersa Four Dotted Sulphur Moth viewtopic.php?p=232208#p232208
Euproctis sp. Tussock viewtopic.php?p=528086#p528086
Morasa modesta Modest Gypsy viewtopic.php?p=232210#p232210
Naroma varipes Figtree Moth viewtopic.php?p=232211#p232211

Notodontidae (Puss Moths, Prominents)

Oenosandridae

Superfamily Geometroidea (Loopers, Geometer Moths)
Geometridae (Loopers, Measuring worms)
Ennominae
Chiasmia sp. Geometer Moth viewtopic.php?p=487624#p487624
Menophra obtusata Pale Waved Umber viewtopic.php?p=530080#p530080
Zamarada metallicata Geometer Moth viewtopic.php?p=530086#p530086
Geometrinae (Emerald Moths)
Adicocrita koranata Circlet Emerald viewtopic.php?p=528711#p528711
Geometrine Emerald Moth viewtopic.php?p=232236#p232236
Larentiinae (Carpet Moths)
Disclisioprocta natalata Natal Dingy Shell viewtopic.php?p=505505#p505505
Sterrhinae
Rhodometra sacraria Vestal Moth viewtopic.php?p=232237#p232237
Scopula nigrinotata Wave Moth viewtopic.php?p=530078#p530078
Sterrhine Geometrid Moth viewtopic.php?p=232239#p232239

Uraniidae

Depranidae

Superfamily Pyraloidea (Snout Moths)
Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
Crambinae (Grass-veneers and Allies)
Unidentified Crambine Snout Moth viewtopic.php?p=232243#p232243
Spilomelinae (Pearl Moths)
Antigastra catalaunalis Red Veined Pearl, Sesame Leafroller viewtopic.php?p=526152#p526152
Duponchelia fovealis European Pepper Moth viewtopic.php?p=502900#p502900
Nausinoe geometralis Measured Pearl viewtopic.php?p=248193#p248193
Pycnarmon cribrata Pearl Moth viewtopic.php?p=530172#p530172
Spoladea recurvalis Beet Webworm, Banded Sable viewtopic.php?p=248194#p248194
Udea ferrugalis Rusty Dot Pearl viewtopic.php?p=491993#p491993

Pyralidae
Phycitinae
Etiella zinckenella Pod Borer, Zincken's Knothorn viewtopic.php?p=526151#p526151
Pyralinae
Mittonia hampsoni Hampson's Salad viewtopic.php?p=232245#p232245
Pyrausta phoenicealis Phoenicean Pyrausta viewtopic.php?p=504041#p504041

Superfamily Pterophoroidea (Plume Moths)
Pterophoridae
Stenodacma wahlbergi, Pterophorus wahlbergi, Crombrugghia wahlbergi Orange Plume Moth viewtopic.php?p=232249#p232249
Plume Moth viewtopic.php?p=232251#p232251

Superfamily Hyblaeoidea
Hyblaeidae

Superfamily Thyridoidea
Thyrididae
Charideinae
Arniocera auriguttata Gold Spotted Burnet viewtopic.php?p=232259#p232259
Arniocera erythropyga Fire Grid Burnet


Superfamily Gelechioidea
Scythrididae (Flower Moths)
Flower Moth viewtopic.php?p=501921#p501921


Superfamily Cossoidea/Zygenoidea + Sesiidae
Cossidae (Goat Moths, Carpenter Moths)
Azygophleps inclusa Inclusive Goat Moth, Leopard Goat viewtopic.php?p=232265#p232265

Limacodidae
Latoia vivida Vivid Slug viewtopic.php?p=327073#p327073


Superfamily Tortricoidea (Leafrollers)
Tortricidae
Eccopsis incultana Olethreutine Leafroller Moth viewtopic.php?p=232266#p232266

Superfamily Choreutoidea
Choreutidae

Superfamily Yponomeutoidea/Gracillarioidea
Gracillariidae

Superfamily Tineoidea (Clothes Moths)
Tineidae
Phereoeca sp. Household Case-bearing Moth viewtopic.php?p=501583#p501583
Psychidae
Acanthopsyche sp. Oiketicine Bagworm Moth viewtopic.php?p=239851#p239851
Eumeta hardenbergi Bagworm Moth viewtopic.php?p=496645#p496645


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AW Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera) Saturniidae

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Family Saturniidae (Emperor Moths)
Giants among moths, including the largest moths in the world. South African species can attain wingspans of 180 mm. Many have elaborate ring-like eyespots on the hind wings, reduced in some to thin, crescentic clear windows. Antennae roughly one third body length. Antennae (especially of males) are feathery comb-like, simple in females. Males can generally be distinguished by their larger, broader antennae. The huge wings are cryptically coloured and often have a hooked tip. Colours variable but usually has large eye spots on fore wings or/and hind wings. There are a few diurnal species, but most are nocturnal and readily attracted to lights. Adults of both sexes do not feed and are short-lived, mating, laying eggs and dying in 3-5 days. Larvae often change appearance between instars, and are as diagnostic as the adults, brightly coloured and covered in spines or tubercles (a few are hairy or entirely smooth). They are large and consume vast quantities of green material. Pupae usually rest in an earthen cell or (rarely) construct a cocoon. Some larvae (Mopane worms) are eaten, others are pests on pine or blue-gum plantations (range of foodplants very large). Emperor moth caterpillars are widely consumed in southern Africa.


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AW Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera) Saturniidae

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Luna Moth, Moon Moth Argema mimosae
Family: Saturniidae. Subfamily: Saturniinae

Image © BluTuna
Kruger National Park, Crocodile Bridge (Nov 2011)

Description
This is one of South Africa’s largest moths, with a wingspan of up to 120 mm (as wide as the palm of your hand).
Easily recognized as large green moths with long tails on hindwing.
Body yellow and brown, wings mainly plain green. Fringes of wings brown or yellowish. Hindwing with long tail. When in flying in the moonlight, the pale spatulate ends of the long tails appear as a strange flickering pulsation which makes it’s flight path disorientating for the observer.
The caterpillar is green with silvery markings.
The silver silk cocoons are easy to spot in the tops of the leafless marula trees during winter. The cocoons even have small holes in their sides that resemble parasite infestation, probably as a defence against parasitism.

Distribution
The species is distributed in Angola, DRCongo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. In South Africa, it is found along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal and around the northern borders.

Habitat
Subtropical bushveld.

Biology
The life cycle of this spectacular moth starts with a mating pair. The female will lay a clutch of eggs and after a period of about 10 days these will hatch into caterpillars (larvae). The caterpillar stage lasts between 6 to 12 weeks during the winter. In the next stage the caterpillar pupates into a silvery cocoon. Out of this, the circle is complete with a moth emerging again. Lunar moths are very short-lived, laying eggs and dying in 3-5 days. The adults do not feed but the caterpillar eats vast quantities of marula, tamboti and corkwood tree leaves. There are 2 broods in the southern parts of its range.
The luna moth releases pheromones as signals to other moths In general, female moths release pheromones to attract males from a distance, while males do so only when close to a female, to sexually stimulate her.

Links: African Moths


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AW Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera) Saturniidae

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Cabbage Tree Emperor Moth, Common Emperor Bunaea alcinoe
Family: Saturniidae. Subfamily: Saturniinae

Image © Sprocky
Kruger National Park

Description
Size: 120 to 160 mm. This large orange, black and grey Silkmoth has a a well-developed eye spot on the hindwings in order to scare away predators such as birds (a feature typical of most Emperor moths).
Larva Final instar about 70 mm in length and about 15 mm in diameter. Ground colour deep velvety black; each somite, from 4th to 12th, bearing eight yellow tubercular processes, two subdorsally, two laterally, and four (in two rows) on each side subspiracularly. The 2nd somite bears four black processes, two subdorsally and two laterally. The 3rd somite bears 4 black processes, as in the 2nd, and two small yellow processes on each side, in line with the subspiracular processes on the other somites. Spiracles red; those on the 4th to 11th somites being surrounded by an irregularly shaped red area. Head and legs concolorous with body.

Distribution
Most of sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Burkina Fasso, Cameroon, DRCongo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Biology
As with all Saturniidae species, the Bunaea alcinoe only lives for a short period of time 1-2 weeks, long enough to find a mate and continue the existence of the species.

Links: African Moths


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AW Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera) Saturniidae

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Injured Emperor Moth Bunaeopsis arabella
Family: Saturniidae. Subfamily: Saturniinae

Image © mposthumus
Male, Middelburg, Mpumalanga

Description
Wingspan about 13 cm. The males have large feathery antennae that enable them to detect pheromones released by females.

Distribution
South Africa.

Links: African Moths


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AW Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera) Saturniidae

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Emperor Moth, Mopane Moth Gonimbrasia belina
Family Saturniidae. Subfamily Saturniinae. Tribe Bunaeini

Gonimbrasia belina Sun City Flutterby.jpg
Gonimbrasia belina Sun City Flutterby.jpg (422.5 KiB) Viewed 4421 times
Rescued from the pool, Sun City © Flutterby

Image © BluTuna
Female

Image © BluTuna
Kruger National Park

Image © BluTuna
Kruger National Park

Description
Moths are large, wingspan: male 100-120 mm, female 105-125 mm. Wings fawn through shades of chocolate-brown, chestnut-brown and orange-brown to pale yellow and greyish. There are two black and white bands on the forewing, one on the hindwing and a large, brown and black hindwing eyespot ringed with white. Eyespot on forewing small, orange, ringed with black and white.
Colouration is variable. Some adults are richly coloured with distinct 'false eyes' whilst others are more cryptic in colour. Males have feathery antennae. They use them to find a mate.
Larva up to 80 mm long: black but densely speckled with yellow and bluish-grey, some specimens also speckled with red bands to a varying degree; 6 short, sharp, black spines on each segment.

Distribution
Its distribution in southern Africa follows that of its primary host plant, the mopane tree (Colophospermum mopane).

Life cycle
The life cycle of this moth is fairly complex. The adult moths lay a single cluster of 50 to 200 eggs on bark or on the leaves of host plants over a two-month period. After approximately ten days the larvae emerge and then pass through five instars (moulting phases where skins are shed as the larvae change shape and size) before pupation. Instars 1 to 3 of the caterpillars are strictly gregarious and will forage together in aggregations of 20 to 200 individuals. After moulting into instar 4, the caterpillars disperse immediately to become solitary. The larval stage lasts approximately 6 weeks during which time the caterpillars undergo a 4000-fold increase in body mass. At the end of the larval stage the fifth instar caterpillars burrow into the soil, where they undergo a period of diapause (inactivity). Eclosion (emergence from cocoons) occurs either one or six to seven months after pupation, depending on the generation. The non-feeding adult moth stage lasts only two to three days, during which time the only function of the imago (adult moth) is to find receptive mates and to oviposit their eggs.

Image © flying cheetah
Eggs, Kruger National Park

Biology
The mouthparts of the adult moths are undeveloped, so they cannot feed and must mate within a few days of emerging.

Image © leachy
"Mopane worm", the edible caterpillar of Gonimbrasia belina, Kruger National Park

Image © Sprocky
Kruger National Park

Image © harrys
Kruger National Park

Image © leachy
Kruger National Park

Image Kruger NP © Sprocky
Golden Orb Spider making a meal of a Mopane Moth

Links: SANParks: SOME ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY & SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF THE MOPANE WORM


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AW Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera) Saturniidae

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Speckled Emperor Gynanisa maja, Saturnia maja
Family: Saturnidae. Subfamily: Saturniinae. Tribe: Bunaeini

Image Male, Kruger National Park, Shingwedzi © BluTuna

Image © BluTuna

Description
Wingspan: male 110-130mm, female 105-125mm. Characterized by dense greyish-black speckling on forewings and large, ringed eyespots on rusty field on hindwings; males with very large, feathery antennae. Quite a variable species, but in the region mostly fairly uniformly grey, rarely with brownish shades.
Larva up to 90mm long; green with dense fine speckling of white, magenta-and-yellow lateral stripe and 4 prominent silver spines on each segment. Complement of silver spines reduced in some populations so that only some or no segments at all have spines, but in Namibia usually fully developed.

Distribution
The Speckled Emperor is known from South Africa to eastern Africa; it 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.

Biology
Both sexes active at night, the males only flying around midnight. This emperor flies from late December until early February. Larvae fully grown March to April. Generally only 1 generation per year, perhaps 2.
Gynanisa maja larvae feed primarily on Camel Thorn (Acacia erioloba) and Mopane (Colophospermum mopane).

Life cycle
Eclosion is from a deep (20 cm) subterranean pupa. Males fly around midnight, the calling time of females.
Females deposit clusters of 10-12 eggs 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 (green, 9.0 cm) descend the hostplant in March or April to pupate in deep underground chambers.

Links: African Moths; Saturniidae Site


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Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)

Post by Toko »

Southern Marbled Emperor Heniocha appolonia
Family: Saturnidae. Subfamily: Saturniinae.

Image © Pumbaa
Kruger National Park

Description
Forewings rounded 62-84 mm.
Caterpillar is 40 mm in length, green with silver on the protuberances and some color.

Distribution
Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Links: African Moths


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Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)

Post by Toko »

Western Marbled Emperor Heniocha dyops
Family: Saturnidae. Subfamily: Saturniinae

Image © BluTuna

Image © BluTuna
Kruger National Park, Satara

Description
Wingspan: male 65-85 mm, female 70-95 mm.

Distribution
Angola, Botswana, DRCongo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Links: African Moths


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