Family: Eupterotidae. Subfamily: Eupterotinae
© BluTuna
© BluTunaKruger National Park, Maroela camp
Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)
Moderator: Klipspringer
Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera) Eupterotidae
Phiala Monkey Moth Phiala sp.
Family: Eupterotidae. Subfamily: Eupterotinae
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
Kruger National Park, Maroela camp
Family: Eupterotidae. Subfamily: Eupterotinae
© BluTuna © BluTunaKruger National Park, Maroela camp
Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)
Monkey Moth
Family: Eupterotidae.
© leachy
Caterpillar, Kruger National Park
© Bushcraft
Caterpillar, Kruger National Park. H7
Family: Eupterotidae.
© leachyCaterpillar, Kruger National Park
© BushcraftCaterpillar, Kruger National Park. H7
Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)
Family Lasiocampidae (Eggar Moths, Lappet Moths)
Like their relatives - monkey moths, silk moths and emperor moths - eggar moths lack a proboscis. Most are fairly easily identified, being very hairy, medium to large, and with a very stout and heavy body. Fore wings are elongate and narrow, frequently pale brown with wavy lines, bands and spots.
Hind wings are rounded and reduced in size, paler than fore wings and unmarked, and may have an enlarged anterior margin that is wavy and cryptically coloured. Lasiocampidae Antennae roughly one quarter body length. Antennae are very comb-like, often only in the bottom half, the terminal half being toothed and bent backwards. In some females, antennae are merely toothed. Some species have a snouted appearance (resulting from prominent labial palps). Males of some species are smaller than females and narrow-winged; females are much bulkier and are poorer fliers.
Adults rest cryptically by day, females of many species projecting the hind wings forward beyond the fore wings. Eggs are laid in a spiral or ring on a twig, protected in some species by detached abdominal hairs. Other species can apparently lay unfertilized eggs that develop into males. Larvae are often very characteristic, covered in hairs like monkey moth larvae, but often with shorter brightly coloured bristles. These detach very easily and can cause severe irritation to human skin. Larvae often live gregariously, resting by day, camouflaged by long lateral hairs that flatten the body against the host tree, eliminating shadows. Larvae feed at night on various trees and shrubs, including exotic garden plants, often under the cover of silken tents. They form very tough cocoons on their foodplants. In Gonometa the short stinging hairs are woven into the cocoon.
Of the 150 known species, some are very widely distributed, but the majority occur in the western part of the region.
Links:
http://metamorphosis.org.za/articlesPDF ... 201992.pdf
Like their relatives - monkey moths, silk moths and emperor moths - eggar moths lack a proboscis. Most are fairly easily identified, being very hairy, medium to large, and with a very stout and heavy body. Fore wings are elongate and narrow, frequently pale brown with wavy lines, bands and spots.
Hind wings are rounded and reduced in size, paler than fore wings and unmarked, and may have an enlarged anterior margin that is wavy and cryptically coloured. Lasiocampidae Antennae roughly one quarter body length. Antennae are very comb-like, often only in the bottom half, the terminal half being toothed and bent backwards. In some females, antennae are merely toothed. Some species have a snouted appearance (resulting from prominent labial palps). Males of some species are smaller than females and narrow-winged; females are much bulkier and are poorer fliers.
Adults rest cryptically by day, females of many species projecting the hind wings forward beyond the fore wings. Eggs are laid in a spiral or ring on a twig, protected in some species by detached abdominal hairs. Other species can apparently lay unfertilized eggs that develop into males. Larvae are often very characteristic, covered in hairs like monkey moth larvae, but often with shorter brightly coloured bristles. These detach very easily and can cause severe irritation to human skin. Larvae often live gregariously, resting by day, camouflaged by long lateral hairs that flatten the body against the host tree, eliminating shadows. Larvae feed at night on various trees and shrubs, including exotic garden plants, often under the cover of silken tents. They form very tough cocoons on their foodplants. In Gonometa the short stinging hairs are woven into the cocoon.
Of the 150 known species, some are very widely distributed, but the majority occur in the western part of the region.
Links:
http://metamorphosis.org.za/articlesPDF ... 201992.pdf
Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)
Barred Eggarlet Bombycomorpha bifascia
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© arks
Rondevlei Nature Reserve, Cape Town
Description
Forewing white two straight brown stripes, and a brown dot.
The body of the larva is black with two narrow yellow lines (bifascia) running down each flank. A coating of orange hairs gives it a yellowish appearance. The larvae are highly gregarious and feed in small groups, with a tendency to become cannibalistic when food is depleted. Moulting four times they attain full size in 50–60 days, at which point they descend to ground level and search for a suitable pupating spot. The cocoons are about 20 mm long and chocolate-brown in colour. After some 14 days the moth emerges. If the season is unfavourable the larvae hibernate until the following Spring.
Distribution
Kenya, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa (Cape Provinces), Tanzania.
Biology
Larval foodplants: Rhus undulata, Rhus crenata, Rhus pyroides, Rhus glauca, Rhus villosa, Rhus macowani, Rhus obovata, Rhus rehmanniana, Piper nigrum.
Links: African Moths
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© arksRondevlei Nature Reserve, Cape Town
Description
Forewing white two straight brown stripes, and a brown dot.
The body of the larva is black with two narrow yellow lines (bifascia) running down each flank. A coating of orange hairs gives it a yellowish appearance. The larvae are highly gregarious and feed in small groups, with a tendency to become cannibalistic when food is depleted. Moulting four times they attain full size in 50–60 days, at which point they descend to ground level and search for a suitable pupating spot. The cocoons are about 20 mm long and chocolate-brown in colour. After some 14 days the moth emerges. If the season is unfavourable the larvae hibernate until the following Spring.
Distribution
Kenya, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa (Cape Provinces), Tanzania.
Biology
Larval foodplants: Rhus undulata, Rhus crenata, Rhus pyroides, Rhus glauca, Rhus villosa, Rhus macowani, Rhus obovata, Rhus rehmanniana, Piper nigrum.
Links: African Moths
AW Insect Book Moths Lepidoptera Lasiocampidae Lasiocampinae
Cape Lappet Moth Eutricha capensis
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© nan
Cape Town
Description
Male: Wingspan 47-50 mm, fore wing length 20-22 mm. Ground colour of the fore wing yellow brown. Medial field is distinctly limited by white irregular to serrated lines. External field weakly outlined as interrupted black, completely curved band. Hind wing yellow to brown with indistinct external pattern. Abdomen yellow.
Female: Wingspan 83-97 mm, fore wing length 36-40 mm. Ground colour of the fore wing from yellow to sandy yellow. Medial field isdistinctly outlined by white irregular lines and black postmedial fascia. External fascia presented as an indistinct spotted band withblack scales. Hind wing brown, with basal lightening. Hind wing uniform yellow.
Diagnosis: Contrary to other related species, the males are characterised by light wing colouration without distinct shading or dark fields in medial and external zones; the species is also well distinguished by genitalia structure.
Larvae aggregate conspicuously on tree trunks feeding on Acacia cyclops, A. carroo, A. mearnsii, A. saligna (Fabaceae), Bauhinia sp. (Fabaceae), Celtis africana (Ulmaceae), Chrysanthemoides monilifera and Ch. incana (Asteraceae), Combretum molle (Combretaceae), Cupressus macrocarpa (Cupressaceae), Eucalyptus macarthurii, Eu. paniculata (Myrtaceae), Euclea racemosa (Ebenaceae), Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), Pinus eliottii, P. montezumae, P patula, P radiata (Pinaceae), Populus sp. [wistezienii] (Salicaceae), Prunus armeniaca, P persicae (Rosaceae), Rhus lancea (Anacardiaceae), Rosa banksiae (Rosaceae), Schinus molle, Sch. terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae), Taxodium distichum (Taxodiaceae); can
be a pest on mango, peach and Brazilian Pepper in gardens.
Bright orange to reddish coloured lateral tufts of hairs are typical for the larva of the species [pure white in the related Eutricha obscura].
Distribution
Mozambique, South Africa.
Links:
https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Neue-Entomol ... 1-0075.pdf
African Moths
© ExFmem
Southern coast between Gordon's Bay and Kleinmond
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© nanCape Town
Description
Male: Wingspan 47-50 mm, fore wing length 20-22 mm. Ground colour of the fore wing yellow brown. Medial field is distinctly limited by white irregular to serrated lines. External field weakly outlined as interrupted black, completely curved band. Hind wing yellow to brown with indistinct external pattern. Abdomen yellow.
Female: Wingspan 83-97 mm, fore wing length 36-40 mm. Ground colour of the fore wing from yellow to sandy yellow. Medial field isdistinctly outlined by white irregular lines and black postmedial fascia. External fascia presented as an indistinct spotted band withblack scales. Hind wing brown, with basal lightening. Hind wing uniform yellow.
Diagnosis: Contrary to other related species, the males are characterised by light wing colouration without distinct shading or dark fields in medial and external zones; the species is also well distinguished by genitalia structure.
Larvae aggregate conspicuously on tree trunks feeding on Acacia cyclops, A. carroo, A. mearnsii, A. saligna (Fabaceae), Bauhinia sp. (Fabaceae), Celtis africana (Ulmaceae), Chrysanthemoides monilifera and Ch. incana (Asteraceae), Combretum molle (Combretaceae), Cupressus macrocarpa (Cupressaceae), Eucalyptus macarthurii, Eu. paniculata (Myrtaceae), Euclea racemosa (Ebenaceae), Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), Pinus eliottii, P. montezumae, P patula, P radiata (Pinaceae), Populus sp. [wistezienii] (Salicaceae), Prunus armeniaca, P persicae (Rosaceae), Rhus lancea (Anacardiaceae), Rosa banksiae (Rosaceae), Schinus molle, Sch. terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae), Taxodium distichum (Taxodiaceae); can
be a pest on mango, peach and Brazilian Pepper in gardens.
Bright orange to reddish coloured lateral tufts of hairs are typical for the larva of the species [pure white in the related Eutricha obscura].
Distribution
Mozambique, South Africa.
Links:
https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Neue-Entomol ... 1-0075.pdf
African Moths
© ExFmemSouthern coast between Gordon's Bay and Kleinmond
Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)
African Wild Silk Moth Gonometa postica
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© nan
Larva, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
© Toko
Cocoon, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Description
Gonometa postica is a medium-sized, stout and very hairy moth. The forewings are brown with pale wavy lines, bands and spots while the hind wings are rounded and reduced in size. The antennae are characteristically comb-like in the bottom half only, the end half being toothed and bent backwards. The male is smaller than the female, which has a large yellow- and-black abdomen.
The larvae are quite variable in their patterning and are covered in irritating setae, or hairs. The larva is black with lateral tufts of white, yellow or orange.
Distribution
Botswana, Central African Republic, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Habitat
Commonly found in association with acacias in dry areas.
Biology
The adults rest well camouflaged during the day. The species produces a tough cocoon which has short stinging hairs woven into it.
The larva has been recorded feeding on Acacia karroo, Acacia mollissima, Brachystegia globifera, Brachystegia randii, Acacia mearnsii, Brachystegia spiciformis, Elephantorrhiza, Julbernardia globiflora, Mimosa, Pinus radiata.
The species has become notable for producing a fine quality wild silk in its cocoon. The cocoons are harvested commercially in Namibia, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa, and the species also occurs in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Links: African Moths; The ecology of southern African wild silk moths (PDF); SANBI
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© nanLarva, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
© TokoCocoon, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Description
Gonometa postica is a medium-sized, stout and very hairy moth. The forewings are brown with pale wavy lines, bands and spots while the hind wings are rounded and reduced in size. The antennae are characteristically comb-like in the bottom half only, the end half being toothed and bent backwards. The male is smaller than the female, which has a large yellow- and-black abdomen.
The larvae are quite variable in their patterning and are covered in irritating setae, or hairs. The larva is black with lateral tufts of white, yellow or orange.
Distribution
Botswana, Central African Republic, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Habitat
Commonly found in association with acacias in dry areas.
Biology
The adults rest well camouflaged during the day. The species produces a tough cocoon which has short stinging hairs woven into it.
The larva has been recorded feeding on Acacia karroo, Acacia mollissima, Brachystegia globifera, Brachystegia randii, Acacia mearnsii, Brachystegia spiciformis, Elephantorrhiza, Julbernardia globiflora, Mimosa, Pinus radiata.
The species has become notable for producing a fine quality wild silk in its cocoon. The cocoons are harvested commercially in Namibia, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa, and the species also occurs in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Links: African Moths; The ecology of southern African wild silk moths (PDF); SANBI
AW Insect Book Moths Lepidoptera Lasiocampidae Lasiocampinae
Black-lined Eggar Grammodora nigrolineata
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
Kruger National Park, Maroela Camp
Description
Wingspan 50 mm, with cream colored forewings with four orange red streaks and double blackish brown lines along the veins.
Larvae are pale yellowish brown 'woolly bears', speckled with brown and orange, with blue streaks, and with long tufts of hairs behind the head.
Distribution
Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa (north-eastern parts), Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Habitat
Bushveld and subtropical forest.
Biology
Larval foodplants: Cassia, Albizzia, Brachystegia spiciformis, Combretum apiculatum, Ekebergia capensis, Senna singueana.
Links: African Moths
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© BluTuna © BluTunaKruger National Park, Maroela Camp
Description
Wingspan 50 mm, with cream colored forewings with four orange red streaks and double blackish brown lines along the veins.
Larvae are pale yellowish brown 'woolly bears', speckled with brown and orange, with blue streaks, and with long tufts of hairs behind the head.
Distribution
Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa (north-eastern parts), Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Habitat
Bushveld and subtropical forest.
Biology
Larval foodplants: Cassia, Albizzia, Brachystegia spiciformis, Combretum apiculatum, Ekebergia capensis, Senna singueana.
Links: African Moths
Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera)
Mountain White Spot Mesocelis monticola
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© Tina
Larva, West Coast, South Africa
Description
In the male aall four wings are brown, each with large white central spot and narrow white margin. The females are wingless and remain in their cocoons that are spun within the twigs of the shrub.
The large orange, hairy caterpillars are commonly seen during spring time.
Distribution
Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
Biology
Larval foodplants: Aspalathus, Hermannia, Pinus, Iridaceae.
Links: African Moths
© nan
Larva, West Coast National Park
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© TinaLarva, West Coast, South Africa
Description
In the male aall four wings are brown, each with large white central spot and narrow white margin. The females are wingless and remain in their cocoons that are spun within the twigs of the shrub.
The large orange, hairy caterpillars are commonly seen during spring time.
Distribution
Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
Biology
Larval foodplants: Aspalathus, Hermannia, Pinus, Iridaceae.
Links: African Moths
© nanLarva, West Coast National Park
AW Insect Book Moths Lepidoptera Lasiocampidae Lasiocampinae
Lappet Moth Streblote sp., possibly Streblote polydora Straight Nadiasa
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© BluTuna
Kruger National Park
The genus Streblote contains several species in the region: Streblote aculeata, S. amphilecta, S. treblote, S. carinata, S. concava, S. cristata, S. cuneata, S. jansei, S. madebrense, S. pancala, S. polydora, S. quirimbo, S. scapulosa.
Streblote polydora is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Links: African Moths; BOLD Systems
Family: Lasiocampidae. Subfamily: Lasiocampinae
© BluTunaKruger National Park
The genus Streblote contains several species in the region: Streblote aculeata, S. amphilecta, S. treblote, S. carinata, S. concava, S. cristata, S. cuneata, S. jansei, S. madebrense, S. pancala, S. polydora, S. quirimbo, S. scapulosa.
Streblote polydora is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Links: African Moths; BOLD Systems
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Africa Wild Insect Book: Moths (Lepidoptera) Noctuidae
Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
The largest and most successful family of moths in the world containing medium to large night-flying moths, usually with dull grey or brown, often triangular, fore wings, and plain white or grey hind wings. Wing colour generally drab grey or brown, forewing darker than hind wing, occasionally with owl-like eye spots. A few species are brightly coloured. Most have whip-like antennae. Antennae roughly one third body length, simple, thread-like. Adults of a number of species are attracted to over-ripe fruit and can pierce the skin of fruit, even of oranges, with the saw-like proboscis. In the subtropics, some species suck lachrymal fluid from the eyes of livestock and antelope. Larvae are generally smooth, but may have hairs on raised bumps. Often destructive, and include the well-known cut worms, army worms, boll worms and stalk borers. Some are 'semi-loopers', resembling geometrid larvae. Most feed on plants, although some species bore stems and a few eat mealy bugs. Pupation occurs in the soil or in a silken cocoon without larval hairs. Over 1700 species are known from the region.
The largest and most successful family of moths in the world containing medium to large night-flying moths, usually with dull grey or brown, often triangular, fore wings, and plain white or grey hind wings. Wing colour generally drab grey or brown, forewing darker than hind wing, occasionally with owl-like eye spots. A few species are brightly coloured. Most have whip-like antennae. Antennae roughly one third body length, simple, thread-like. Adults of a number of species are attracted to over-ripe fruit and can pierce the skin of fruit, even of oranges, with the saw-like proboscis. In the subtropics, some species suck lachrymal fluid from the eyes of livestock and antelope. Larvae are generally smooth, but may have hairs on raised bumps. Often destructive, and include the well-known cut worms, army worms, boll worms and stalk borers. Some are 'semi-loopers', resembling geometrid larvae. Most feed on plants, although some species bore stems and a few eat mealy bugs. Pupation occurs in the soil or in a silken cocoon without larval hairs. Over 1700 species are known from the region.